Ben Toft started his professional career at Leicester Tigers in 2002 spending 4 years at Welford Road club before moving to neighbours Coventry on a 3 year deal in the Championships, Ben then made the move across the channel to France playing for Oyannax on a 2 year deal, he had a spell at the UK Championship side Doncaster Knights before finishing his career due to injury in Bucharest.

“I am now in my third season at the club and how the time has flown we have had ups and down but has my time here been a success? What defines success? Two consecutive second place finishes and currently sitting in Fourth position. Should we have won promotion? This to me would be short term success, the rumour mill has been spinning that this would be my third and final season at Coalville rugby club. The rumour mill however is incorrect my first three years have seen the 1st xv climb from the bottom of the league to the top, we have a strong colts side developing for the first time in 5 years thanks to Simon Phelps and his team. We have secured long term sponsorship deals to support and keep this club running.

What’s does the future look like?

The future is bright and we shall develop teams to match the great facilities this club has to offer. We are in a transition period of players and gradually introducing the new generation Into senior rugby we had 3 colts in the squad which beat Oakham away this month.

I have committed to the club for a further three seasons. The management team consisting of Joel Wallace, Billy Measures, Ian Hickin and Aaron Briers will be taking this journey with me. We will be adding some new faces to the coaching department with a new forwards coach a new player coach and a strength and conditioning coach. With the new appointments soon to be announced this will allow me to work more on the player pathway from mini’s to juniors and juniors to senior rugby.

I want this club to become a force in Leicestershire Rugby and this starts with the number of players in the mini and juniors and keeping them all the way through to senior rugby my vision is to have a 1st team, development team,3rd team and a colts team all performing at home on a Saturday afternoon.

The ship has been steadied and the hard work now begins.