Stratford director of rugby Rance to step down at end of season

TOM Rance will step down as Stratford director of rugby at the end of this season after more than four years in charge of the club.

The 33-year-old took over the reins at the start of the 2013/14 campaign, having originally joined the Black and Whites as a player at the age of five.

Rance, who guided Stratford to their best ever league finish in 2016, now feels the club will benefit from having a new man at the helm.

“I think it’s time to allow some new ideas to come into the club,” said the former Shipston head coach.

“Five years is a long time and I only ever said I wanted to do three. Ultimately, I have achieved what I wanted to achieve and I believe now is the right time for someone else to step up.”

On Saturday, Stratford slipped to their third straight South West 1 East defeat as they were beaten 20-13 at Oxford Harlequins.

Rance's men return to action this weekend when they welcome Royal Wootton Bassett to Pearcecroft.