By David Haigh

Canterbury Rugby Club have added significantly to their senior squad for the 2025/26 season.

Their front-row recruits are headed by Harry Drane from Welsh Super League side Pontypool, and he’s joined by Dutch under-20 international Maik Timmerman (Westcombe Park), Lewis Young (Saracens Academy) and Carter Oliver (Brighton).

There will also be fresh faces in second-row player Charlie Barker (Saracens Academy and England under-19s) and utility back Lewis Talbot from Tonbridge Juddians, currently playing a key role for Kent in their bid to win a third consecutive Bill Beaumont County Championship title.

Barker and Young join on season-long loans from Saracens.

Also on board is promising winger Harry Dean and the squad will be further boosted by the return of three long-term injury victims in flanker Mo Pangarkar, prop Elliot Lusher and scrum-half Cullen Daly.

With the retirement of stalwarts Danny Herriott - now in charge of Deal & Betteshanger - and Aaron Cooper, director of rugby Taff Gwilliam has aimed to add depth to his front-row roster in view of the challenge faced by the Pilgrims as they compete at Regional 2 level for the first time.

He said: “We’re delighted to have retained the whole of last season’s squad - retirees apart.

“The new signings add depth and competition to our squad. With the Pilgrims now at level 6, it was paramount that we strengthened.

“Lewis Talbot and Maik Timmerman are experienced National 2 players, with the potential to improve further.

“Harry Drane has been playing regularly at a very high level in Wales. The fact that Lewis Young and Charlie Barker are in Saracens’ senior Academy speaks for itself.

“Carter Oliver is an investment for the future who goes alongside some talented homegrown youngsters we have coming through, such as Owain Collins, Max Campbell, Aiden Demery, Ollie Jordan Smith, Isaac Devine and Andrew Thomas to name but a few.

“An exciting season is in prospect.”