WITH the new rugby season less than a month away, Crediton players have been training since early July and in good numbers too.

The forthcoming season brings with it huge challenges as we step up a level following our victory in the play-off game at Midsomer Norton at the end of April.

Certainly, the league we have moved up to contains some Clubs with proud histories, notably Bridgwater, who we last played in 1995, and Lydney, who we have never played before.

Newent, Chew Valley and North Petherton are three other sides that we have never met previously. We shall be renewing our acquaintance with St Ives, Hornets, Keynsham, Thornbury, Newton Abbot, Cleve, Sidmouth and Devonport.

With Alec Hepburn and Sam Hill continuing to head the coaching team, next season’s squad will have a familiar look to it as we have tremendous faith in the players that worked so hard to earn promotion last season.

We welcome Callum Anthony who has moved into the area and who previously played at Torquay as well as Will Goodman who has returned from University having played his rugby at Birmingham Solihull.

In addition, centre Lewis Webber has come through from the Colts and certainly looks a promising prospect. Another player back in the ranks will be Leigh Kinch, after a couple of seasons with injury and work commitments preventing him from playing all but a handful of games.

The same applies to Sam Brooks and it is almost like having two new players on board. With a couple of other possible signings in the pipeline, the battle for places in the senior squads will certainly be competitive.

Prop Henry Gavin will continue as Club Captain, a role he fulfilled so admirably last season, Dan Cooper will lead the Second Fifteen, his third season in that role whilst John Gurzynski will captain the Third Fifteen.

The playing strength has certainly been bolstered this season with a number of excellent Colts players coming through off the back of a successful season and it will be interesting to watch their development as they adjust to senior rugby.

Winger Josh Woodland has already benefitted from some senior games last season and proved to be a natural finisher whilst last season’s Colts skipper Will Crang would certainly have made his mark but for a serious knee injury which will keep him out of action for some considerable time.

On the debit side, we have lost the services of influential full-back Oli Down who has made the move to Taunton and we wish him well as he steps up a level.

Moving up to South West One is not something totally new to us as we achieved that back in 2001 albeit the name of the league has changed (it was known as South West Two back then) and we enjoyed three seasons at that level.

Before the league season gets under way, we have a few trial games starting with a home fixture with Bideford this coming Saturday, August 17, followed by a trip to Tiverton on Thursday, August 22. Saturday, August 24 we have a combined Second/Third Fifteen squad game at home against North Tawton and on Saturday, August 31, Paignton First Fifteen and Colts will pay us a visit as will Withycombe Seconds for a game against a Second/Third team squad.

Tuesday, September 2 sees the traditional trial game for the Colts against Exeter School. Saturday, September 7 sees North Petherton visit Blagdon for the first league game of the season whilst the Thirds have a home friendly with Newcross and the Colts start their Merit Table campaign against Exeter Saracens.

Two former players have returned to the Club, threequarter Rob Avery-Wright has made the move back from Newton Abbot and Will Goodman, a back row forward, is back from University and a spell with Birmingham Solihull.

We also welcome Callum Anthony, a second row, who has joined from Torquay having moved into the area.

Paul Harris