“Lean & Mean: - Super-fit Moseley can give big boys run-around – says Eji - by Andy Walker, Sunday Mercury, 26th August

“Eji Uzoigwe believes Moseley's new-found energy levels will give National One's big (stet!) boys the run-around next season. Head coach Ian Smith dragged his troops back for early pre-season training more than two months ago with the initial focus being on fitness and conditioning.

After an energy-sapping relegation battle last season, Smith was eager to make sure Moseley would hit the ground running for the 2007-08 campaign. The Red and Blacks get their season under way next Sunday when they head to Nottingham.

New back-row recruit Uzoigwe, is already reaping the benefits from the extra sessions. Now the former Ireland Under-21 international, who made seven appearances for Moseley's second team last season before heading back to Gloucester, is confident that his newly-lean team-mates will be too hot to handle for the league's beefy packs come September.

And Uzoigwe, who has just finished studying sports conditioning and coaching at Hartpury College, has boasted that Moseley will be top-10 material next season rather than relegation contenders.

"We've been working hard on our fitness. Last year we were just up from National Two and we struggled in a whole new league," said Uzoigwe, who is half-Irish, half-Nigerian. Next season we will be looking to get around the slower, bigger forwards in the division.

"A lot of the sides in National One are big and heavy up front but we want to exploit their lack of pace with our improved fitness and play an exciting brand of rugby. Last year Moseley had a problem with backs not being able to keep the ball but this year we've got bigger backs who will be able to hold the ball up and make space.

"I'm confident that we can push forward for a top-10 finish and bringing in young blood will help. The team know what National One is all about now and the link-up with Gloucester will also give us a boost next year."

Cheltenham-based Uzoigwe, who also has National Three (South) experience with Cinderford, spent his early years in Hong Kong because of his father's career in IT but eventually settled in Belfast where he took up rugby at the age of 13. He progressed from Ulster-based Campbell College to Ireland U21s whilst studying at Hartpury College.

He was also part of the Hartpury side that won the British Universities Sports Association Rugby Union Championship in April and has represented Gloucestershire and the "Scorpions" sevens team. Now, despite admitting his ambition to become a regular fixture on the international stage, Uzoigwe is first aiming to make his mark at Billesley Common.

"I'm contracted at the club for the whole season and I'm going to try to break into Moseley's first team," he said. "I'm already familiar with the set-up and I know a few of the lads and coaches from my time here last season. At some point in the future I'll be looking to progress into the senior Ireland side but first I just want to progress as a player and continue to try my best for Moseley." -