WELLINGTON Rugby Club are set to lose one of their best players for the rest of the season.

No8 Will Hodgson, whose brother George captains the first team, is to go travelling to the other side of the world, and head coach Bradley Field admitted this week: “It will be a big blow for us. Will is one of our key players and we can ill-afford to lose him.”

Welllington have yet to win a game at senior level this season and Field said: “Things are improving. Our main issue is consistency. The team changes week after week.

“We only get ten to 12 players at training - the commitment is not there. When you are in a rut it is very difficult. We have to stick together and get through it.”

Wellington’s first team wil be back in action on Saturday, January 10, for their opening match of the New Year in Regional Two South West when they play away to Penzance & Newlyn.

Wellington went down 52-0 to the Cornish side when the teams played each other at the Athletic Ground in mid-October. Penzance are lying ninth in the table while Wellington are bottom, ten points adrift of the next placed side Cullompton.

Meanwhile Wellington 2nd XV, who are also without a win in Counties Three Somerset South, play at home to Wiveliscombe 2nd XV - only 16 days after the teams fought out a 14-14 draw on Boxing Day at Plain Pond.

It will be the third meeting between the sides with Wiveliscombe having beaten their rivals 39-12 when they played at home in the league in early September.

Wiveliscombe are in tenth spot in the 12-team division following promotion at the end of last season, while Wellington are bottom following 11 successive losses.

*Former Bridgwater & Albion coach Simon Morrell has joined Wellington as forwards coach.