PROMISING scrum-half Ricki Gould is relishing the opportunity to continue his development with Rochford Hundred.

The 18-year-old has joined the London Two North East side on loan from Southend Saxons.

And it a switch Gould is planning to make the most of.

“It’s good to have gone over to Rochford and to be playing in the first team there,” said Gould.

“At Southend I wouldn’t have got that kind of opportunity at the moment.

“I might have maybe got 10 minutes here and there at the end of the game but I wanted more and I jumped at the chance to go to Rochford.

“Obviously I knew Mike Guess (Rochford’s director of rugby) because he was at Southend before going there so that’s how it all came around and I’m glad I did.

“It’s much better for me to be playing first team rugby rather than the second team which isn’t quite as serious as they’re aren’t points or league placings at stake.”

Gould has been a regular in the Rochford side so far this season and has helped them triumph in three of their last five games.

That has taken Hundred up to seventh in the standings.

But Gould, who skippered the Seevic College side in the Nat West Schools final at Twickenham last season, has his sights set far higher.

“It was disappointing to lose out to Holt last week because it should have been four wins in a row but we’re improving all the time,” said the youngster.

“The aim is to move higher up the table and I think we can do that.”

But, long term, Gould is keen on returning to Southend and forcing himself into the first team at Warners Bridge.

“I still strain at Southend one day a week and hope to be able to be in contention there next season maybe,” said Gould.

“They have Jack Daly there who is quality and I learn from him all the time in training.

“You never know what can happen and hopefully it can be him and me going for selection next year.

“But I’ll certainly be a better player from having been at Rochford.”