Bournville have had added a brace of hookers to the list of players who have re-signed for next season.
Ben Rhodes and Conor Thorneycroft are the latest to commit to the club having impressed last season.
Rhodes, who arrived from Welsh Premiership club Merthyr 12 months ago following longer stints with Worcester RFC and Dudley Kingswinford, had his season cut short by a torn biceps muscle which he sustained at Loughborough Students in January.
But he will be fit for the start of the new season, when Bourns will be playing in Regional One Midlands, and he has taken on new responsibilities as front row coach in the new coaching team headed by Alex Grove.
Thorneycroft arrived at Avery Fields from Sutton Coldfield late in the 2023/24 season and played an important part in helping Bournville Blues win promotion in his first full season with the club.
He had to wait patiently for his opportunity at first team level but got it when Rhodes and Jake Bailey were both injured and took the opportunity to impress.
“Conor has made a big impact with the Blues this season,” said former Scotland international Grove.
“His pitching at the lineout has been excellent and he was largely to credit for the Blues’ set-piece dominance.
“Ben gives us set-piece accuracy and go-forward with the ball in hand.
“Next season he will take up the role of player/coach. He’ll be working with the front row and forwards in our unit splits but he wants to be a main part of the playing group so that will be his focus.”
