Former international unveiled as new coach

Junior Paramore, a veteran of three World Cups with the Pacific islanders, joins the club on a full-time basis. His main responsibility will be the first team but he will also be heavily involved in the club’s community rugby programme.

The 41-year-old made 27 international appearances for Samoa, playing at the 1991, 1995 and 1999 World Cups. He scored six tries, including one against Argentina at the 1999 World Cup.

Paramore first came to England to play Rugby League for Castleford, before switching codes and playing for Bedford and then Premiership side Gloucester.

As a coach, he guided Luton to the Midlands One title in 2006-07 and has spent the last three years at Bournemouth, guiding them to fifth in National Three South West last season.

Paramore said: “I am very pleased to join Basingstoke. It is a good opportunity for me because the club was looking for a full-time coach to work both in the club and the community.

“It’s my job to pass on the experience I gained playing international and Premiership rugby to the younger lads – and hopefully we can play some entertaining rugby along the way.”

’Stoke finished a very respectable sixth at the end of their first season in National Three London last season – and Paramore is looking for the players to pick up from where they left off.

“I just want to carry on what the boys achieved last season,” he said.

“I will discuss things with the coaches and players before we decide what our aims for the season should be – whether that be promotion or whatever.”

One of his first jobs will be to work out who can replace fly-half Paul Morris and full-back Andrew Fitchett, who have returned to New Zealand after two seasons at the club.

New faces may also be needed in the front row, as Neil Young is having a break after becoming a father, while Simon Lovegrove plans to retire.

Paramore said: “I know a few players have left but I am not going to come in and change everything straight away. I am keen to bring local lads through and that is something I have done in the past.

“I will have a look at the first few training sessions, see where we need to strengthen and go from there.”

Chris Cook, the club’s chairman of playing, said Paramore is an exciting addition. He added: “When we first met Junior, we realised we had an opportunity to really signal our intent. It’s a very positive appointment.”

Paramore replaces Jim Kelly, whose job as an accountant meant that taking a full-time role at the club was not really an option – and Cook was keen to pay tribute to the outgoing head coach.

“Jim had some real impact in our promotion season, when he was first involved, and built on that last year,” Cook said. “Our results and league position show it has been a successful year and we wish him well wherever he ends up.”

Paramore is not the only new addition to the club staff as Jerry May has been appointed as the new community rugby coach.

May had been filling in over the past few months and Cook believes that May and Paramore will work well together in implementing the club’s community programme in local schools and keeping an eye on the youth teams.

“We basically looked at the coaching requirements from the club’s perspective and feel that this strengthens the community programme and also allows us to widen the range of age groups coached within the club,” Cook said.

“The two of them should work well together. Jerry knows what the club is about and Junior coming in brings a really high level of coaching know-how.”

Club chairman Steve Tristram said: “It is something different for us to have a full-time coach who is not playing and I am pleased that he is going to be part of our programme in local schools. That is an important part of what the club does.”