DURSLEY RFC seem to have become a bit of a number eight factory as the latest talented back row forward starts to emerge within the first team.

Dursley, of course, was the breeding ground for Ben Morgan before he flew off to higher things with Gloucester and England.

But leading the way now is Tim Wilcox who has put in some storming performances in Dursley’s climb up the Gloucester One league ladder to third place in the table and a genuine chance of going up to the Gloucester Premier division next year.

Wilcox, 23, has had some high acclaim from his club’s head coach Tom Broomfield who said: “Tim Wilcox is a phenomenal ball-carrier. He is not necessarily our biggest player but he is one of our fittest and quickest and shrugs off tackles.

“His game knowledge is excellent. We have some heavy boys in our pack and having people like Tim going around the pitch is essential.”

Those skills are virtually identical to those possessed by Morgan, who pops back to his old club every so often when duties at Gloucester spare him the time.

Wilcox, though, does not believe he can reach the lofty heights of playing for his country, but thoroughly enjoys being part of the Dursley back row.

He is a local boy as well – another comparison with Morgan – and played for the club before going to university.

Wilcox also has the Morgan-esque attributes of picking up and barnstorming over for his tries plus being in the right place at the right time in defence.

He said: “I had a stint at Dursley before I went to uni where I joined Charlton Park (RFC) in London South One and played with them for a bit. In the last year of uni, I played for their team.

“Now I am back here working on the family farm in Coaley. I did agriculture at uni so I am back there for a bit. My uncle and my dad run the farm so my dad is having a hip replacement now at Christmas so I said I would come back and take on the role for a year.

“It will be a busy time now with lambing coming up.”

He is, though, part of a Dursley pack which has transformed the team. From a side which was known for being a ‘top of the ground’ side who had good backs but struggled when the winter rains arrived, they have a powerful pack to set the platform for attacks.

Wilcox added: “Our scrum is just dominating this year so that is good and creates a platform for me, really, to work off which is great.

“It is creating a lot of options which is what we need. We are building as a team. It is gelling really well with the forwards.”

Dursley have lost three times this season, one of those to unbeaten league leaders Spartans by 25-17 in September, and, while that may have been a negative, the club have used it to push onwards although defeats by Brockworth and, most recently, Old Cryptians in the last month is worrying.

Wilcox said: “Spartans was a big wake-up call for us. Since that happened, we have really put in the hours and tried to pick it up.”

As for his own ambitions, Wilcox does not think he will emulate Morgan. He laughed: “I just want to keep playing as I am. I would love to progress and playing for Charlton Park was good for me, playing at the faster pace.

“When I was down in London, I was working at Twickenham behind the bar and he (Morgan) was on the stage and clocked me. Ben came over and had a chat.”

Dursley have benefitted this season from Wilcox and there is no doubt that the next product from the number eight factory will soon come off the production line.