Garrod signs on for next season at Fylde RFC

The 20-year-old learned his rugby with the likes of Fylde Mini-Juniors, Arnold/AKS School and Blackpool Sixth Form.

His junior involvement has included captaining the Lancashire Under-17s as well as representing the Red Rose at Under-18 level.

He also skippered the North’s Under-18s and trained with Scotland’s Under-19s, while injury frustrated him at the England Under-18 trials and prevented him from representing England Students.

For good measure, he also made his debut for Sale Jets against Leicester Tigers at the start of this week

Garrod has also enjoyed a hectic start to his senior rugby career.

He made his Fylde debut at Darlington Mowden Park in April 2016 and has made 27 first XV National One appearances for Fylde as well as 11 National Two (North) games while on loan at Preston Grasshoppers during the 2016-17 campaign.

Fylde head coach Warren Spragg told the club’s website: “Matt is one of the players who makes you realise how young this squad is.

“He is now almost 21 but, because he’s been around the first team squad since he was 17, our expectations for him are much greater.

“He is a player who everybody at the club is willing to succeed – a local lad who came through the M&Js, works behind the bar and helps to coach the Colts. There’s a lot to like about that!

“The next couple of seasons will be a real test of whether he wants to step up and be a top quality Fylde second row and put the extra work in to increase his level of performance.

“He has definitely got the potential to achieve this and I hope we see a different animal on the pitch next season.”