Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club’s pre-season campaign gets underway a week on Saturday as they take on Letchworth, and Director of Rugby Steve McDade cannot wait.
After taking over the post this summer, McDade, known as Ace, has seen the side return to training in great condition ahead of the new season, which gets underway in September at home to Olney.
“I hated pre-season training when I was a player,” he joked. “It was all fitness training and no match at the end of it!
“We’ve been in training for a few weeks now and the side looks in good shape.
“We’ve got some new faces, and some older ones returning, but on the whole I think we’re stronger than we were last year.
“We’ll have a lot of strength in depth, and that’s vitally important for teams like ours.
“In all likelihood, we’ll get two or three big injuries between now and Christmas, like any rugby team really, but that’s where the depth comes in.
“The players in the 2nds will have to step up and show they’re capable, and that’s what our early training sessions are all about.”
After finishing fourth in the Midlands 2 East South league last season, McDade has already signalled his intent to improve on that finish next season by saying only a top two finish could be classed as a success.
And from what he’s seen so far, he doesn’t think it’s too much of an ask.
“It’ll be a big ask, but it’s one we’re set on. But with a few pre-season matches under our belt, starting in a few weeks against Letchworth, we’ll be ready for the season to begin properly.
“These pre-season games are more about getting back to match fitness rather than anything else - getting familiar with the game again.
“After that, we get down to the real business of competitive rugby again.”