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Chinnor Announce Double Front-Row Signings

Chinnor Announce Double Front-Row Signings

Jack Johnson30 Jul 2021 - 11:58
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https://www.chinnor-rfc.com/ne

Keston Lines and Ethan Thiart join our Chinnor Family

CHINNOR RFC Thame is pleased to reveal the signings of props Keston Lines and Ethan Thiart.

The duo add further competition in the front row, joining Bradley Harewood, Alex Hunt, Ryan Lomas and Soane Tonga’uiha as we gear up for the new National League 1 season in September.

A loosehead prop, Lines contributes 110kg to our pack and joins from Greene King IPA Championship side Coventry.

The 21-year-old was a part of the Leicester Tigers Under 18s team which went unbeaten in 2017/18 and won the Premiership Rugby Academies League. He also played for Tigers in the Premiership Rugby Shield, and made his first team debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2019.

Lines’ time with Coventry was hampered by injury, but he is ready to kick on with Chinnor.

He said: “After a few chats with Richard (Thorpe, Director of Rugby), I decided to join the Club because they’re headed in a really good direction. The playing group we have is really exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing how much we can achieve together.”

Chinnor RFC Thame Director of Rugby, Richard Thorpe added: “Keston is a player I have had my eye on since I first took my role with Chinnor. Since arriving in early July, he has impressed with his work rate around the park and a skill set that will serve him well as a prop in National League rugby.”

Thiart is a Namibian-born mobile tighthead who weighs in at 138kg.

First impressing for Namibia at the U13 Craven Week, Ethan went on to enrol at one of South Africa’s renowned schools, Maritzburg College, going on to represent the U14A and U15A teams.

He also earned selection for his country at the U16 and U18 Grant Khomo Weeks, while he caught the eye for Windhoek Gymnasium in a number of schoolboy rugby festivals.

The 20-year-old subsequently signed for South African club Blue Bulls, but was unable to make the move due to the pandemic and he is now looking forward to his experience in England.

Thiart said: “I signed with Chinnor because it is a great opportunity to grow and develop as a player. I’m also excited to work with a great coaching staff and learn underneath their expertise.”

Thorpe added: “Ethan is a young, raw talent with a physiology that any top-level front row forward in the modern era would look upon with envy. He is, however, typical of a generation of young academy age rugby players whom during those crucial, formative developmental years have been held back due to the pandemic. Yet I am excited to work with Ethan as his potential is clear from the impact he has made at age grade level. National League 1 will of course be a big step up for him, but we have some of the finest scrum and tactical coaching around the leagues with Soane Tonga’uiha (Forwards Coach) and Craig Hampson (Head Coach), so I have no doubt we will see him flourish at Kingsey Road.”

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