Rugby Union: Tuipulotu hands Brighton boost with new deal

Sep 5 2007 by Andrew Stratton, Liverpool Daily Post

NEW BRIGHTON are looking to steady the ship at Hartsfield in the coming months after relegation in successive seasons.

The Blues will feature in North Two West League this season and open with a home game against Vale of Lune on Saturday.

A lot of hard work has been put in behind the scenes.

Kati Tuipulotu has signed a new three year contract and will lead the side. Steve Dorrington stays on as chief coach and Ian Kennedy continues as backs coach.

The club has been busy seeking out new players after losing some of last season’s squad.

New signings include scrum-half Michael Gallimore and prop John Brotherton from Northwich along with stand-off Richard Hopkin from Macclesfield.

Back-row man Danny Jones has returned from Birkenhead Park and also back in the fold is prop come lock forward Lee McCourt from Anselmians.

The Blues expect to register a Tongan centre in the near future. Utility man Alan Hesketh should be available later in the month after a spell in America and stand-off Stephen Dean will re-join the squad when work commitments allow.

Players to have departed Hartsfield include Ian Murray to Caldy. Dan Naylor and Chris Naylor have returned to Lymm and Sion Williams has also gone back to his East Cheshire roots.