CHINNOR have welcomed back two more stars of their 2019/20 cohort.

Willie Ryan and Sam Yawayawa have returned to boost the National League 1 club ahead of the new season, following Jason Worrall back to Kingsey Road.

The duo played a key role as Chinnor finished fourth in 2019/20, when the season was curtailed by Covid.

It is Ryan’s fourth spell in Thame and the back-row forward is keen to pick up where he left off.

He said: “It’s great to see some familiar faces and I look forward to getting to know the rest of the senior squad.

“I’m really excited for what the next few seasons will bring.”

Chinnor director of rugby Richard Thorpe added: “I am excited to work with Willie for the first time as he is a tough player, a direct person and it is clear he has plenty of ambition left on the table with regard to his rugby career.

“Already one of our senior players, Willie’s dogged ‘follow me’ leadership style will also serve to get the best out of the other players in the squad.”

Ryan returns following a season with Greene King IPA Championship club Nottingham, while Yawayawa was also in the second tier with London Scottish.

The former Leicester Tigers and Glasgow Warriors centre is well-travelled, having lived in Germany and Scotland and represented the latter from Under 16s through to Under 20s.

Yawayawa will also lead Chinnor’s elite training programme for children aged seven to 18 and joins the Colts coaching team.

An achilles injury meant Yawayawa has had a tough time since leaving Chinnor, but he is in good spirits as he continues his rehab.

He said: “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of a year, but I’m very happy to finally be back on the field with the boys and smashing pre-season.

“There are a lot of new faces and some that are more familiar, but we’re all equally as eager to get out playing again after a year of no rugby.”