Pennell will be leader says Bowley (From Worcester News)

Pennell will be leader says Bowley

9:20am Saturday 4th September 2010 in

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WILL Bowley has backed his good mate Chris Pennell to make the grade as a Premiership captain — as soon as the stricken skipper has recovered from his latest injury nightmare.

Pennell was named Worcester Warriors captain by new head coach Richard Hill only to dislocate his ankle and fracture his fibula — an injury that will keep him out of action for around six months — in the pre-season game with Newport.

Fellow Sixways academy graduate Bowley, who used to share a house with Pennell, believes the talented full-back has the right credentials to lead Warriors back to the top-flight and to make them a success when they’re there.

The second row said: “I think Chris has definitely got the potential to lead Worcester in the Premiership. He’s not the same type of person as Pat (Sanderson) was.

“I think, around Chris, there’ll be opportunity for other people to lead too, which is what we need. You don’t want just one person leading the whole team, you want players around him to do it too.

“He’s definitely got the potential to do the role Will Skinner has done at Harlequins and now Dylan Hartley is doing at Northampton.

“A lot of teams are going towards younger guys who’ve been at the club a while and are planning to stay there — to make them clubmen. I think that’s quite important and there are a lot of guys like that at Worcester.”

Bowley added: “I used to live with Chris and consider him a very good mate. If there was one person out of everyone who doesn’t deserve another big injury, it’s that guy.

“Fortunately, he’s very positive and he won’t be moping around, he’ll be thinking what he can do to make himself better for when he comes back. He’ll be getting stuck into his weights.

“He’ll be sorely missed — it would have been a great opportunity for him to play for another season and bring himself on as a captain and really get into that role.

“However, now he’s got a different focus and hopefully he’ll be back for the play-offs.”