Preparations for next season are gathering pace – with the start of pre-season training scheduled for Thursday 26th June and a players meeting on the Tuesday before, the 24th at the clubhouse. Put these in your diary now.

The Collective has secured the support of the General Committee to enable us to buy new training equipment, tackle shields and other kit that will help us to deliver interesting and enjoyable sessions! We are also getting support and input from Dave Hilton and the RFU, with the coaches having an initial session with Dave on June 10th.

At the players meeting on the 24th the coaches will set out the program of pre season in detail and you will be able to see the activities we have planned from June through to the start of the season. The program has been designed by Rob Chamberlain and Dan Waters, and aims to build up a strong base of fitness but in a progressive structure.

That means the first session will NOT be a complete beasting session, learning from last year – so come along and start building your base for next season. And whilst you are at it, get on to your mates and make sure they will be coming too - we need you all to take responsibility for bringing our training numbers back up!

The sessions are varied and structured and will get progressively more challenging to prepare us for rugby specific sessions through August.

There is a blend of speed, agility and handling skills with specialist sessions on the breakdown, defence, etc breaking up the fitness element.

We also have the first of a number of trial matches arranged, on Saturday 30th August v Old Colstonians at their ground. Others to follow soon.

In the meantime you can keep your personal conditioning on track by coming to the club on Tuesday nights where the senior players are running touch rugby from this week onwards.

IMPAVIDUS