Ward determined to help put Ampthill on the map
DAVE Ward says he is hugely relieved to have found a new club after his proposed move to crisis side Yorkshire Carnegie fell through.
Former Harlequins hooker Ward had been due to link-up with Carnegie as player-coach after agreeing terms last November. However, the 34-year-old's move fell through due to the club's financial problems and only now can he plan ahead.
The Rugby Paper can reveal Ward has now signed for Championship newcomers Ampthill.
“I signed for Yorkshire last year, the main reason being to work with Chris Stirling again, who I'd played under at Cornish Pirates” Ward said.
“Unfortunately I found out around February time that the finances weren't where they thought they'd be. It was going to be a good two-year deal at what seemed to be an ambitious club, with a view to having a go at reaching the Premiership in year two.
“With the infrastructure and academy they had it's a plan that could have worked, but clubs rely on benefactors and if one pulls out it can create a domino effect, and that's what happened at Yorkshire.
It's been unsettling for a lot of people.”
Ward added: “By February most clubs have got their recruitment sorted and this is one of the worst years I can remember in terms of guys struggling to find clubs. There are guys from Harlequins who are quality players who still don't have contracts.
“It's the end of June and it's unbelievable some of them can't find clubs, but I just had to remain calm, especially as I was a little different to other guys in that I wanted something with a coaching aspect to it as well, with an eye on my future career options.
“There wasn't really the opportunity to stay in the Premiership, certainly nothing that would have given me a coaching role, but luckily Ampthill showed some interest and, after talking to (rugby director) Mark Lavery, it was a no-brainer to sign.”
Ward's acquisition is a bold statement of intent from Ampthill, who are expected to announce a raft of other impressive signings in the coming weeks.
The Dillingham Park outfit will be written off as Championship no-hopers, but Ward is unfazed. He said: “The first thing I get asked is, ‘Who are Ampthill?' and the second thing is, ‘Where is it?'. I just say it's near Bedford but they still look nonplussed.
“Ampthill know who they are, though, and when you speak to their head coach, Paul Turner, you can see how much ambition they've got. They've achieved good things coming up through the leagues and are an honest club.
“With this current squad they've been used to winning most weeks so the task when we do lose a few games is how we're going to react. Bringing in guys like myself will add more experience and, hopefully, hold us in good stead.”
Having spent three years in the Championship at the Pirates, Ward adds: “It's going to be a really competitive league and Newcastle won't have it all their own way. It's a league on the rise which hopefully will become bigger and better.”
