AS he surveys a sun-bathed Craven Park where a group of children attending one of Barrow Raiders' summer rugby camps are throwing balls around, the memories of playing winter rugby as a junior seem a lifetime away for Josh Ward.

It is not too long ago, relatively, that the 21-year-old was featuring as an enthusiastic youngster for top amateur side Leigh Miners Rangers though, and now the Barrow Raiders scrum-half finds himself responsible for encouraging those up-and-coming players in this area.

It is something Ward is able to reflect on as he casts an eye over the variety of amateur club shirts on display, although he is perhaps slightly jealous of the fact they get the chance to learn the game during the summer months.

"My memories are of it being freezing cold in winter and muddied up to your eyeballs, but because it's in summer now it's miles better," said Ward.

"At Miners, they're probably the best amateur club at the moment and I'm proud to be from there. Most of these kids have got their Ulverston gear or their Barrow Island gear on, and it's good to see kids still loving rugby."

It is coaching these youngsters as part of the club's community development programme which has helped Ward retain an enjoyment for the game during a spell on the sidelines.

Indeed, he takes great pride in the fact he comes to work every day, alongside fellow development officer and team-mate Joe Bullock, and helps youngsters enhance their enjoyment of the sport.

"I love it," said Ward. "In the schools, it's different to the camps, but it has given us a lot of lessons and improved us as coaches.

"Helping kids is something to be proud about - it's not a job where you just go into work, you're proud of going into work and, hopefully, helping kids get better at rugby.

"Even though I haven't been playing recently, I'm still loving rugby because I'm coaching and still influencing someone in some way."

Ward's last appearance for the senior side came in the 62-4 demolition of Kingston Press League One strugglers Hemel Stags back in June, with Chris Hankinson and Jamie Dallimore the preferred half-back partnership at present.

Not that you will hear any complaints from him though. Instead, he has been concentrating in putting in the hard graft in training and hopes to get an opportunity again now the Raiders have made certain of their place in the play-offs.

"I can't really moan," said Ward. "When I did get dropped, I had a dip in form, but I thought I was playing really well before that.

"But I can't moan because the club is in a great position at the moment.

"We've cemented a play-off place, so hopefully I'll get my shot and give Cresta (head coach Paul Crarey) something to think about in the pivot position."

Barrow head to London Skolars tomorrow aiming to avenge the defeat to the same opponents earlier in the season and continue their push for a top-three spot.

Should they overhaul Rochdale Hornets and finished second then they would a trip to leaders Toulouse Olympique just a week after playing them in their final Super Eights game.

Nevertheless, Ward insists the Raiders have nothing to fear from the unbeaten French full-timers, who have racked up a league-highest 826 points and conceded just 222.

"Promotion is what we set out to do earlier in the season and I don't think we expected Toulouse to be as good as they were, but if we get a promotion spot then the club will be overjoyed and so will we," said Ward.

"We said a couple of weeks ago that they're not picking up the results they were, although they're still winning, but I think we'll give ourselves a chance when we go over there and we'll be giving it 100 per cent."