New Canterbury Rugby Club coach Nicky Little hopes he does his pal Andy Pratt proud when he replaces him in the role next season.

Pratt stepped down this month after four seasons at the helm, paving the way for former Fiji international Little, a veteran of four World Cups and a member of the coaching team at
Merton Lane for the past two years, to step up to the role.

Little admitted: “It didn’t take much thought when they offered it to me. Andy is a mate. He told me all along that I’d get the job and when I was given it I phoned him straight away. Hopefully he can sleep at night and I can do him proud.”

The 38-year-old, who has also played top-flight rugby for Bath and Sale, said: “It’s my third season and I know the club well.

“We’ve had two different teams in that time, really. Some old boys with a good mix of young ones in the first season and then this year I probably enjoyed it more, seeing young players with fight in them growing through the season.

“I was double proud of the young boys who played such a big part last season when they would have started the season thinking they might not play.

“They did awesomely and when we start the new season, that’s a year more weathering they’ve had.

“There are always obstacles in your way but they were not a problem to me during my career so they won’t be now.”

Little has a relaxed style and hopes to mould a team in his own image. He said: “Hopefully, I’ve been helping the past couple of years by telling the players to relax and enjoy themselves – what’s the worst that could happen?

“I’d like to put my own stamp on the team in that way, I want them to be loose and relax.
“I have seen it work in all forms of life, whether it’s building a bridge or whatever, if your men are relaxed and enjoying themselves, they will perform better."

Full interview in this week's Kentish Gazette