Tough guy at Stourbridge rugby club

There is one caretaker at the local rugby club that you do not want to mess with - Stourbridge's Kevin McCauley.

Burglars and vandals beware, because if you break into Stourton Park you are likely to have a 23-fight professional boxer staring back at you.

And if you wanted any further indication this caretaker is teak tough, he was an international level judo fighter until badly breaking his arm in 2001.

Even the rugby players dare not mess with the man, who is originally from Brighton but moved to the area in 2002.

His job at the rugby club came about four months ago and devoted wife Dawn, not to mention two-year-old daughter Lily, are enjoying seeing more of Dad after long spells away working in the building trade.

In boxing McCauley is training hard for a rare home fight at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on June 6, not to mention a planned bout with Liam Power at Bristol's Marriott Hotel on May 23.

But the light middleweight is confident of being as fit as ever for what will likely be a punishing double-header.

He said: "This job has definitely helped with my training, they have got a full gym at the club and I have got the pitch to run on as well. I haven't trained with the team yet, but I am planning to come the start of next season a couple of times a week.

"A lot of people are coming down from the club to cheer me on, so hopefully they can help pack the Civic out. The players give me a bit of stick for being a boxer, they like to throw their weight around so I have to tell them it's the little ones you need to watch.

"I get on well with all of them, they are all good lads and it's been good for me to be in a sporting environment regularly."

Come fight time at the Civic and McCauley will be in with Waddington's Ryan Clark, a rugged opponent who gave Ben Wilkes a tough run before losing on points in the end back at the venue in March.

But the 30-year-old insists it's just nice to be back in the Black Country for the first time since May 2009, having only won one and drawn another in 12 fights since.

He said: "I am no paper fighter but I have had a lot of decisions go against me in boxing and I need to get a few wins under my belt again. I have been fighting too much as well, I need to be in the ring little and often like these other boys.

"Ryan's a cocky kid, I know him well and he will be training hard for this one. I don't think I will struggle with him and I can certainly hit harder, so if he can stay on his feet after that fair play to him.

"I shall have a go, that is for sure."

For tickets, call the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.

The 10-fight show will also be broadcast online live on pay-per view at a cost of just £2.99, through Hatton TV at www.brandhatton.com.