BARNES
Barnes return to National Two South for the first time in three seasons following a heart-stopping extra-time victory over Exmouth in the play-offs last April. In the most incredibly tense finale to the season, with just one minute remaining in extra time and the scores deadlocked at 22-22, James Greenwood broke free to score the try that clinched their promotion to National Two.
The club are under no illusions as to the size of the task that faces them during the new campaign but chairman Michael Whitfield said on the club’s website: “Of course, we cannot live on our past glories all this season, they count for nothing. But they do reveal a tough and resilient Barnes Rugby heart that beats very strongly, and one that knows how to win, and hold out in the final moments of those tough close encounters we will inevitably face during this campaign. We are not here to make up the numbers, that is for sure.”
The club will have to cope with the loss of lock Luke Williams who has returned to Australia after two seasons at the West London club, and No.8 Tom Wagstaff who has taken a year out to travel.

BISHOP’S STORTFORD
Bishop’s Stortford have good reason to view the new season with confidence after being named Rugby Club of the Year at the inaugural National Rugby Awards this week.
The Silver Leys outfit were the only club to have been shortlisted for two awards at the event which was held at Twickenham Stadium, and won the main award of the evening for entering two teams into a competitive league for every age group, from U7s through to U18s.
It goes some way to making up for the disappointment of losing narrowly to North division rivals Ampthill in the promotion play-offs to National One last season.
However, the club’s rugby director Andy Long told The Rugby Paper that his side will have their work cut out to repeat last season’s heroics of a second placed finish. “The league’s going to be really competitive and we’ve got to keep improving,” he said. “The surprise element of Bishop’s Stortford has probably gone now. But we’re fortunate we haven’t really lost anyone, which is al-ways a danger when you don’t pay. We’ve managed to recruit a few guys to freshen things up and it’s been a really good pre-season.” Notable signings include Colchester captain and No.8 Calum Irvine.

BURY ST EDMUNDS
It’s doubtful whether any club in the country has been busier than Bury St Edmunds during the close season. The Suffolk outfit, which has become Pro-Am, signed no less than 21 new players who join an existing squad of 23. In addition, five players have been promoted from the club’s junior academy, following the club’s strategy of developing home grown talent.
Notable signings include Bedford Blues and England U18 full-back Chris Lord, Cornish Pirates centre Oliver Snook, Hartpury College fly-half Fraser Honey, Harlequins A team prop Joe Reid and Sale Sharks No.8 Ben Davey.
Off the field, former England coach Damian McGrath has been unveiled as part of the club’s new coaching team. Bury have expanded their coaching set-up from two to five ahead of their first season in rugby’s fourth tier.
McGrath, who has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with England Sevens and also helped the full England set-up under Clive Woodward, will focus on defence and skills.
Gavin Hogg will still oversee match days as Director of Rugby with Bury now having coaches responsible for scrum, lineout, defence and skills, breakdown and contact, and attack and kicking.
Justin Loveridge, who works for Leicester Tigers as a development officer across Norfolk, has also joined the club as attack and kicking coach.

CAMBRIDGE
It’s been a busy close season as well for Cambridge who have successfully re-signed all of last season’s squad and have announced a clutch of new signings on and off the field.
Prop Sisa Nagasima, 32, who represented Eastern Counties last season, and centre Gerhard Wessels, 34, who has played for the British Army since 2007, arrive at Volac Park from local rivals Shelford, while back row James Ingle, 25, returns to the club after a spell at Northampton Saints and Moseley.
Second row George Bretag-Norris, 23, has come in from Bury St Edmonds as a straight replacement for Ollie Marriott, who has left to take up a new job in London, and 21-year-old scrum-half Jack Harvey has joined from London Irish Wild Geese.
“We’re quite excited about George, who is a big guy and athletic player,” Director of Rugby Rowland Winter told the Cambridge Evening News. “George operates well technically at the lineout and this is the area we expect him to have the biggest impact.”
Tight-head prop David Coutts is another newcomer to Cambridge, having impressed against them for both Dorking and Chinnor last season. The former England Counties Under-20 player has picked up a wealth of experience at Esher, despite only being 21.
Other new signings include Oli Petrides, a 21-year-old winger who moves from Durham University, Saad Sait, a hooker or prop who joins from Peterborough Lions; and 18-year-old prop Luc Jeannot, who has arrived from Northampton’s academy.
Off the field, the club have appointed Bedford Blues prop Dan Seal as forwards coach.

CANTERBURY
There will be an international flavour to Canterbury’s first team squad this season with an international prop and three New Zealanders joining head coach Nicky Little’s squad.
Croatia prop Ivan Miljak, who played in the European Championships for his country, arrives at The Marine Travel Ground alongside Kiwi centre Dan Winchester and backrower Sean Nixon. The fourth signing, Northlands lock Tyler Edwards will join the club in October after completing playing commitments in New Zealand.
The club have also recruited local young talent in Harry Sayers (Dover), Ewan Caborn (Maidstone) and Tom Mount (Thanet Wanderers) while back row Max Cantwell returns to the club on loan after a spell with Old Elthamians. Several of Canterbury’s successful Under-18s side will also join the senior squad to widen Little’s options.
The club has moved quickly to fill the gaps left by the departure of skipper Tom Sherson and Adam Cathcart, both of whom are returning to New Zealand, and prop Sam Kenny who is leaving to go to university in Scotland.