MATT Williams says he is excited to add experienced fly half Jonny Bentley to Chinnor’s coaching set-up.

The former Gloucester half-back joined the Thame-based side midway through last season.

Bentley made an immediate impression as Chinnor just missed out on the National League 2 South play-off spot.

And director of rugby Williams believes the Kiwi will prove an asset as player-attack coach in 2017/18.

He said: “I’m really excited to have Jonny on the coaching team.

“His playing record speaks for itself and he has played under some phenomenal coaches in his time.

“Jonny has strong beliefs about what he wants to achieve and as the maestro wearing the No 10 shirt it makes sense he is involved.”

Bentley joins the current coaching team of former Canada international Richard Thorpe and Ricky Khan, while centre Danny Barnes stays on as captain.

A number of players have left the club, with former Bristol centre Junior Fatialofa hanging up his boots, while Frank Jones has been forced to retire due to injury.

Former London Welsh captain Ben Pienaar is to undergo knee surgery and will take time out from the game.

Tom Burns (Rotherham), Jay Tyack, Koree Britton (both Moseley), Jamie Townsend (Richmond) and CJ Osazuwa (Blackheath) have all moved on to higher division clubs.

Williams said: “We would never stop progression.

“It shows, quite frankly, we’re doing the right thing, because we keep generating players every year that move on and upwards.”

Experienced heads Nathan Hannay and Bevon Armitage have also left the club to be closer to their famlies in the south-west.

Williams added: “I wish them well, they’ve still got, without a shadow of a doubt, rugby in their legs.”

Meanwhile, Chinnor have confirmed flanker Alex Bradley will join the club permanently after a successful spell on loan from Ealing last season, while Daz Oliver returns after a year with Rotherham Titans.

RETAINED PLAYERS

Thorpe, Bentley, Barnes, Price, Hutchinson, Birch, Parkins, Manning, Bradley, Waddingham, Goodfellow, Hopkin, Broughton, Giles, Hibberd, Lamont, Heath, Castle, Goss.