Coventry RFC new boy James Tincknell relishing a fresh start

...following London Welsh switch.

Centre James Tincknell has made a big impression since his summer arrival at the Butts Park Arena from London Welsh.

And after marking his league debut for Coventry with two tries in Saturday’s 41-14 win over his former club Wharfedale on the opening day of the National One campaign, the 27-year-old is relishing the prospect of a full season of competitive rugby after a journey which would surely have beaten most.

“I’m really enjoying it here – I just want to play regularly and get some game time under my belt,” said Tincknell, who is developing a potent midfield partnership with Rob Knox. “It’s a huge opportunity for me, and hopefully I can help to get Coventry back into the Championship where they should be.”

Born in Leicester but growing up in Cockermouth, Tincknell played cricket for Durham and MCC Young Cricketers – he was named as 12th man for England when they played South Africa at Lord’s in 2008 and went on as a replacement fielder - until a back problem put his cricketing future in serious doubt.

Consequently he returned to rugby union, his first love at school, and played in the Yorkshire League for Old Otliensians before joining Wharfedale for the 2009-10 season – scoring 15 tries which resulted in an England Counties call for their summer tour to Canada, and attracting the interest of Leeds Carnegie.

But his first Premiership season at Headingley came to an abrupt halt in February 2011 when he was seriously injured in a car accident and was in a coma for three weeks.

After a lengthy recovery period it has been a long road back for Tincknell which has brought him to Coventry following a further spell at Wharfedale, a season with Doncaster, three months at Cornish Pirates, and a return to the Premiership at London Welsh last season where he made 18 appearances before an injury and finally a four-game loan period at Cov’s National One rivals Blackheath.

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