Carvell lays down marker for success; GAME ON: RUGBY UNION.

Byline: By JOHN WILKINSON 

COVENTRY are making a clear statement of intent for next season.

Chief executive Ian Carvell views the signing of Tongan international Josh Taumalolo - on the same day when Mike Umaga was confirmed as head coach - as an indication of the club's determination to mount a strong promotion challenge.

And he is confident that more new signings will come on board in the next few weeks to join Taumalolo, James Moore and Tom Johnson who have already put pen to paper.

"We're going to have a big go at it," said Carvell. "We are signing top players and are close to completing others, which I think should tell everyone that we mean to be a force.

"We feel we have made a lot of progress this season and with more current squad players signing new contracts each week, we think we have the foundations in place to take another step up."

Twenty-eight-year-old Taumalola, who has won 26 caps for Tonga, has been released by Sale Sharks and completed his move hours before leaving for a holiday in America.

"We worked very hard to get it all tied up," said Carvell. "I'm delighted at the outcome and we think that Josh will make a real impact next season.

"He has only played Premiership rugby in England, and although he has had a difficult season at Sale with a calf injury, we're happy that he is now fit and he has agreed to submit himself to a medical when he comes back.

"I have spoken to players who have come up against him and all the reaction is positive - we'll be looking for big things from him next season."

England Counties utility back Moore, who made his Premiership debut for Sale at Northampton earlier this season before going out on loan to Orrell, and Reading back row Johnson are, at 22 and 21 respectively, both considered outstanding prospects.

Umaga has come up against Taumalolo as a player on a number of occasions and is looking forward to working with the squad newcomers.

"He's a good quality, uncompromising player and it's nice that Coventry can attract players like that," said Umaga.

"He's not too dissimilar from Pila (Fifita) and will add a bit of penetration which we have perhaps lacked at this stage of the season.

"Players talk to each other, and a lot of it is down to the way the boys have been playing and the effort that has been put in. People want to be a part of it.

"There is going to be a lot of anticipation over next season, and we will need to prepare well in the two down months and hit the ground running pre-season.

"The start is going to be all-important again.

"But the attitude of the boys has changed considerably, and they know the importance of the off season and looking after themselves.

"Rugby is not just eight or nine months now, it is year round if the boys want to perform to the level they feel they can."

Flanker Gareth Gravell was among the players to this week commit themselves to another season at Coventry, and Carvell is delighted to be keeping the former Newport captain.

"He's a fantastic work horse of a player," said Carvell. "He's not a flashy player, but when you go through the match video you see just how good he is.

"He leads from the front and he communicates with the other players."

CAPTION(S):

POSITIVE MOVE: Mike Umaga's confirmation as head coach is the first of a series of moves to show Cov mean business next season; SIGNED UP: Gravell