Cherry Enjoying Life As An Archer

As hard-working good blokes go, Nottingham Rugby’s number eight, James Cherry, is certainly one of them, and he’s got the award to prove it.

A graduate of the University of Nottingham, where he gained a BA History, and MSc Management, Cherry, now 24-years-old, was the captain of the uni rugby side, one in which made over fifty appearances.

In the latter stages of his time at UoN, the Norfolk native turned up at Lady Bay “to help out,” and he’s never looked back; that was just a couple of years ago, although it certainly feels longer.

“I played what, fifty-one first team games whilst at university, it was class and I really enjoyed it;” began Cherry.

I only wanted to play for fun but, after having just one training session, I really loved what it was all about here, and showed me that it was actually something that I wanted to do.

“It’s something that I can really do and, having played at university beforehand, that’s definitely a place to go, especially if you’re someone who has missed out on academies.”

Since rocking up at Lady Bay, the former number seven made his Archers debut in mid-April 2022, when away to Bedford, however, it would be eighteen months before picking up his first start, in October 2023 at home to Ampthill.

Injury though set him back some whilst in his third year at UoN, the reason being; “I was playing too much rugby,”

The likes of Jamie Taylor and Paul Westgate though have been more than instrumental in shaping the player of today, the duo having done much to aid in the progression of a young player who still has the world at his feet.

“I was playing rugby as a young kid, but never thought I was any good,” explained the young Archers star.

“In-fact I’ve never actually been the best player anywhere I’ve been playing but, going into last season, having previously played at seven, I realised I wasn’t going to get much game-time, so I spoke with Hammo (Archers Head Coach, Craig Hammond), and I was moved to eight.

“I added a few extra kilos last pre-season, and just wanted to start in the eight and we took it from there.

“Some of the games in which we lost though, we could have easily finished top five, even top four, but, after the Prem Cup, and with the injuries we had and momentum stuttering, we struggled to get anything back.

“Personally though, I was still starting games, and there was joke about how I was going to go on an play every game, but for me, the goal was to just start games.

“I never thought I’d actually do it, but that’s what happened.”

Alongside picking up the ‘Hard Working Good Bloke Award,’ Cherry was also presented with the ‘Supporters Player of the Season Award,’ and ‘Neil Hannah Player of the Season Award,’ with statistics that made for an ultra-successful, 2024/25 campaign in the Championship, now Champ Rugby.

Being an ever-present, that saw Cherry make an impressive 32 appearances (22 Championship, 6 Prem Cup, 4 friendlies), made for a dominant season on the field alongside which he topped the charts for –

Most Minutes – 2335 (from 2560)
Most Carries – 323
Most Tackles – 398
Most Dominant Carries – 163
Highest Tackle Completion – 96%

Cherry would also add three Man of the Match awards, and was in two Championship Team of the Week, it really was one of those seasons.

Now though, the focus is already on what’s to come, for both Cherry, and what will be a new-look Archers side, in a new-look Champ Rugby division.

“I’m using this pre-season t continue pushing things,” explained Cherry.

“We do have a great analyst at the club, and I love looking at the statistics, the numbers, to see if I can utilise them to optimise performances within the team.

“There’s been a lot of external motivators as well though, that have been instrumental to my individual success, like Dave Ross (Backs Coach) who pulled me aside late in the season just gone and paid me some really great compliments.

“But I couldn’t have done any of it without the like of Jonesy, Stanno, Dunc, who are all just brilliant, the same as Loman, Green etc, everyone played their part and without whom I wouldn’t have got those awards.”

Now though, with clubs back into pre-season training ahead of the restart in early October, with the Archers providing the season opener, at their Lady Bay home, against local rivals, Doncaster Knights, Cherry is very ready to go again, and he hopes, to push things up another level.

“We’re ready now, going into pre-season, and being well looked after by the coach staff,” concluded Cherry.

“As a team though, we’ve not spoken yet about what the new season will be, but we should be up there, challenging, pushing.

“There’s been a lot of changes to which we need to work through, and develop as a team from.

“For me though, personally, it’s about doing whatever I can to help us to win games, to develop more as a player, and being the best version of me I can be.

“I do want the Players’ Player of the Season this time around, and credit to Kegan Christian-Goss for taking that last season.

“Also, credit to other players for their awards, David Williams (Try of the Season vs. Ealing Trailfinders), and my mate Ale Loman (Young Player of the Season) who had great seasons, in fact a lot of the lads here had really good seasons.”