NOBODY likes being dropped - but Basingstoke second row Andy Hore says that losing his place in the 'Stoke side was good because it showed just how hot competition for places is.

Second row Hore has made a really positive impact at the club this season after returning following a spell at university in Yorkshire, becoming a key member of James Croker's squad.

However, having lost his place in the starting line-up a couple of times this season, Hore knows first hand that complacency is not an option - for any player.

“Nobody is undroppable and that is a good thing because complacency can be a really big problem,” he said. “When I first came back I did not realise there would be quite as much competition, with Steve Drawbridge, Jake Henderson, Matt Brougham and myself all fighting for two places in the team.

“It just means you are playing for your position all of the time so you cannot afford to take your foot off the gas or be complacent.”

Basingstoke will need Hore on top form if they are to overtake the sides above them to finish in the London One South top two.

The title looked beyond them a couple of weeks ago, but with Chichester losing to mid-table Hove, Hore says that winning the league is back on the table.

“Chichester losing to Hove definitely gave us an incentive to give an extra push,” he said. “When you are going for second, that competitive edge is not quite the same.

“If we play as well as we did at Chichester we will have a chance to win the league, we just need to cut out the mistakes. We were robbed that day but we all put in 100 per cent effort and after the game you could see how much it meant to everyone.

“I think that might make us quite a bit stronger so losing that day may not necessarily be a bad thing because it brought us even closer together.”

Hore played his youth and academy rugby at Basingstoke before attending university in Leeds, playing semi-professional rugby league during his time in Yorkshire before returning to get his first taste of senior rugby union at Down Grange.

“It is my first season of senior rugby union but I played semi-professional rugby league in Yorkshire and that was pretty tough,” the 23-year-old said. “I wouldn't say that playing for Basingstoke is as hard as that but I am adapting well and it is good fun.

“There is a good atmosphere around the club. Other teams in the league pay their players but we are all at the club because we want to be and love playing.

“The coaching set-up is brilliant. Everyone seems to get on really well and the whole thing is working.”

Hore has obviously made a similar impression on the new coaches, who named him as a vice captain before the season started.

“It was quite a privilege to be asked to be a vice captain,” he said. “Growing up at the club we always looked up to the guys in the first team so to lead them out as captain is a great honour.

“I would certainly not rule myself out of being a potential club captain in the future but I think captaincy should come with a bit of experience. I would love to do it though so maybe I will be ready after a few more years.”