Since my appointment in June, the past five months have been incredibly busy, filled with significant progress and development across our Senior Rugby Group. Our matchday squads reflect the extensive work we’ve done in a short time, particularly in recruitment and although some of the results have not gone our way, we are making real strides. We’ve invested heavily in youth, to build a new vision and culture within the team to allow us to kick on over the next couple of seasons and to get the club where it wants to be in National League Rugby.

We had a strong pre-season, where conditioning was a primary focus. We’re working to establish a distinct identity in our style of play, introducing a lot of new content to the players to set the foundation. Additionally, we’ve strengthened our support network through a new partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).

Leannan McCann has joined us as our Strength and Conditioning Coach and has quickly proven to be a great asset to our coaching team. This week, we welcomed two new Performance Analysts, who will play a key role in supporting the coaching staff. Their expertise will enhance our ability to review and prepare effectively, helping us conduct targeted training sessions to drive player growth and development.

In terms of results, the first block has been a mixed bag. We’ve had excellent performances against Tynedale and Sheffield, yet we’ve struggled to capture points in away games. Consistency is our key focus — not just on game days but at every training session on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We’re continually refining our approach as coaches and players, ensuring there’s a focused theme each week, with players encouraged to take responsibility for their development. This is further reinforced through our player leadership group.

Looking ahead, we have some big fixtures in the next block. We’re excited to test ourselves against the league’s top-performing teams and to see how we measure up. Our journey is all about constant improvement, week by week. With our high standards and commitment to pushing our limits, I’m confident the results will follow.

We’re fortunate to have a talented group of players who are improving with every game in what is a very demanding and physical league. The experience they’ve gained, particularly in challenging away games, has fuelled our team’s determination to make this season a success. The drive within this group is inspiring, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together.

As a playing and coaching group, we’ve established a clear and cohesive philosophy for how we want to approach the game. A key focus is ensuring that every player can effectively operate within our systems, both in attack and defence. To achieve this, we've prioritized refining micro skills in every training session. By elevating these fundamental skills, we’re building a strong foundation to push our attack and defence to a higher level, ensuring that every player is prepared to execute with precision and adapt dynamically within our structure.