Taylor: Big spenders need Mourinho's magic touch

1:09pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008

Richmond director of rugby Brett Taylor has warned National Division Three South big spenders they will need the touch of ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to get out of the league.

Taylor welcomed back his squad to pre-season training on Tuesday knowing he will have at least 80 new players interested in turning out for the famous club this year.

London Scottish, Rosslyn Park, Rugby Lions and Lydney top the list of those spending big to get into Division Two next season as Richmond make a long awaited return to the National Leagues.

Co-tenants Scottish received a £1.5million cash injection last week designed to get the club into National Divsion One, with former Hampton School boy and England Sevens international Simon Amor signed as player-coach.

While Park have raided the ranks of London Welsh players discarded following their switch to a full-time outfit this summer, with Dylan Pugh and Rob Jewell set to lead a back line coached by World Cup winner Stuart Abbott.

The Division Three South title chase will be awash with ex-Guinness Premiership talent and could be one of the most keenly contested competitions in the country.

But Taylor has warned rivals intent on buying success they will have their work cut out to mount a title challenge this season.

"Clubs may be in a position to recruit ex-Premiership players, but it will depend on how they gel all those new players together," he said.

"You may have all the money in the world to get the best players, but it takes a good coach to mould a team. You only have to look at Jose Mourinho to see that.

"The influx of players has raised the bar in this division and it is going to be a very hard league to get out of.

"Our goal is to try and get into the top four. That would be a fantastic first season for us."

Taylor will lead his team back into the fourth tier of English rugby after winning the London Division One title at a canter last season.

But he will not be relying on a host of new superstars, despite expecting a huge influx of players during pre-season.

"We always attract players because of who we are and I would think there are about 20 players I would class of first team standard at the moment, " he added.

"But Richmond is more than just about the first team. You get promoted as a club. We will find teams for those players, which will only add to the strength in depth we have."

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