After the long summer break, and a profitable pre-season which has seen all the old faces and plenty of exciting new ones, Finsbury Park play their first game of the 2017/18 season this Saturday 2nd September.

Though a friendly fixture, we are in no doubt that the London Irish Amateurs XV assembled to face us will present a stiff challenge, and one that will be good preparation for the coming leagues.

This year the 1s take on the Herts and Middlesex 2 League, finally yielding a number of exciting local derbies such as our friends at Mill Hill, who have provided so many pre-season games in recent years, and our nearest rivals, Haringey Rhinos. Fittingly, these two teams represent our first and second league opponents of the year, so it will be important to begin the year with a bang.

The 2s begin the year in Herts and Middlesex Merit Table 5 - where the 1s were just 2 years ago - and should be looking to advance yet again. With the club's strong record in this league, and the calibre of player joining the club this pre-season, continued success in both the league and the cup should be very realistic objectives.

But, before the leagues begin, this coming game against London Irish is the task at hand. Two training sessions this week remain, ready for us to finalise our match preparation - and then the mouthwatering prospect of some rugby at long last.

I, for one, am a bit bloody excited...