Barking RFC's new head coach Dean Cutting

New Barking head coach Dean Cutting wants to return the club to its community roots.

New Barking head coach Dean Cutting wants to return the club to its community roots after taking over once again at the Goresbrook-based side.

Cutting came through the Barking youth ranks as a player in the same side as England World Cup winner Jason Leonard and was director of rugby alongside Eddie Jones when the club were promoted to the National Leagues, before departing in January 2007.

And after leaving a similar position with East London, Cutting has returned and has no doubts his squad can have a good season back in the National Two South after last season’s relegation.

“I have spent so much time here in the past I know most areas and that helps a lot,” said Cutting, who is also a RFU Community coach in Essex.

“Things have obviously changed quite a bit, now is the time for everyone to push in the right direction and get this club back on an even keel and become a great community club.”

He is joined by Dave Maudsley, the head of the Rugby Academy at Robert Clack School, as well as Heinrich Zimmerman, Gary Usher, Rob Anderson and Tim Wright, all of whom were with Cutting at East London and will form a strong coaching presence at Gale Street.

Even though there will be another almost complete overhaul in the playing squad, with the bulk of last season’s side off to pastures new, including Andrew Henderson and Tom Parker who have both been confirmed as signings for Ealing Trailfinders, Cutting is positive of a good season, though keen to set realistic goals.

“There are some that are staying, but regardless of that I am fairly confident of a good campaign,” he added.

“Without doubt we will be very competitive but at this time, with a long way to go before the season starts, it is important to keep possible achievements realistic.

“You have to have goals that can be achieved and ones that are realistic.”

Ahead of the league season, which commences on September 1 with a trip to Gloucestershire to face Lydney, the Gale Street side will have two pre-season friendlies, at home to Hertford on August 11 before making the trip to National One side Rosslyn Park on August 17 ahead of a squad day the following weekend.

“Both of those games will be good tests of where we are at in terms of the squad, which we will look to assemble ahead of our registration day on June 23,” said Cutting.

Two players who will be joining the coaching staff from their former club will be scrum-half Scott Sarson and Michael Anderson, who were both set for pastures new after leaving East London at the end of last season.