There is no doubt that the numbers have been boosted by the arrival of our new senior coaching team headed by Jim O'Loughlin and including club stalwarts Jamie Kimpton and Steve Pilgrim.

But, the new relationship with sports development experts, AFYA, is adding a fresh perspective and considerable expertise to our whole club rugby development programme.

Using the senior squad players, under their "Coaches' Education Sessions" AFYA experts have delivered specialist coaching routines which will form the basis of our "whole club" playing strategy for seasons to come.

Already, they have addressed key areas of the game including:

Defence Management:

Delivered by James Wade (Head of Performance at AFYA, Current Head Coach at Oxford University and former specialist coach at Sale Sharks, Wasps and Scotland)

The Breakdown

Delivered by former England and British Lions hooker and current Wasps forward coach, Andy Titterall.

The Lineout

Delivered by Chris Jones formerly of England, Sale, Wasps and Yorkshire Carnegie

Other sessions on the Scrummage, Attacking Shape, Kicking, etc., with the next session scheduled for 24 August, so, all coaches are encouraged to attend to learn first-hand from some of the foremost coaches in the country.

The first senior warm-up game is already upon us with and away trip to Hoylake this coming Saturday. This is followed by a home fixture versus Shotton on 20 August and a Cheshire Cup tie at home against Wilmslow on 27 August.

The League season starts on 3 September with an away fixture at newly-promoted Southport.