THURROCK Rugby Club have announced former Saracens Bob Crooks as their new head coach as he looks to take the club to a new level next year.

The London 1 North club announced the appointment on the final day of the season, following a 33-3 victory over Chelmsford as they finished the season in sixth.

The move has been backed by director of rugby Dean White and Crooks, who has also worked with the likes of Bracknell, Cambridge and Exeter Chiefs, said he cannot wait to get started.

“As a born and bred Essex coach, the opportunity of becoming the Thurrock head coach is both a fantastic opportunity and a privilege,” said Crooks.

“I have been coaching for 27 years now and have had many fantastic experiences from the early days of the professional game.

“This includes time at Saracens in the Premiership, through the National Leagues and I have also been involved in the RFU Academy Elite Player Development process with Ivybridge Community College and the Exeter Chiefs.

“To be able to join the Thurrock family and help continue the fantastic work undertaken in the recent past is a very exciting time for myself and my young family, and it is one that we are looking forward to with immense excitement and pride.

“The current off field set up at Oakfields is incredibly professional and the potential of the club across all areas of the playing programme for mini, youth, ladies and seniors is huge.

“I sincerely hope that my years of experience combined with my passion and enthusiasm for the head coach role will play some small part in the realisation of this potential over the forthcoming years.”

And White echoed Crooks’ excitement, and has backed him to be a roaring success next campaign.

“This is a very exciting day for the club,” he said. “I’m very pleased that Bob has chosen to work with us.

“He is a fantastic coach that has been at the very top of the game. I’m sure he will do a great job with our very young team.”

Thurrock were emphatic in their win against relegated Chelmsford, who did put up a valiant fight.

It was a six point game at half-time, with Thurrock leading 9-3.

But two sin-bins for Chelmsford early in the second period saw them score a try after eight minutes as they began to assert their dominance.

A sin-bin of their own saw Thurrock struggle to build on that lead, with Chelmsford awarded six penalties in succession.

But they failed to make them count as Thurrock, returned to a full compliment, scored two tries to run out 33-3 winners come full-time.