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#Post#: 14120--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Duncang
Date: July 15, 2026, 11:03 am
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Great reply Rothman, thanks. I for one, remembering our previous
visits to the Prem, do not want to back there.
#Post#: 14121--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Rothoik
Date: July 15, 2026, 11:19 am
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Talking to friends at Richmond, I think the Champ is a very high
standard of Rugby that severely tests squad depth ( we have 23
man matchdays squads). They were on the verge of relegation
despite winning a reasonable number of matches and the thought
process was that Nat 1 was a good standard and its better to be
winning hard fought games than being competitive for 40 minutes
in Champ games where you get bulldozered after 10 minutes of the
second half. I think this is the league were Roth belong
(especially with the current set up). We will watch some tough
losses and battle to some hard fought victories but hopefully we
can do enough to stay here and build on what we have. I think
the prem is a high financier's play ground, playing some
fantastic rugby, but with many teams haemorrhaging money and
heavily reliant on being bankrolled to the hilt. The ring
fencing of the Prem, was indicative of the RFU attitude and
selling the soul of rugby to the financial sector (even the name
Twickenham has been jettisoned). I think we are, for now, better
where we are and seeing that survival in the this league is a
major achievement and one to be proud of.
#Post#: 14122--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Chris.Garbutt
Date: July 15, 2026, 11:30 am
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Yes I think the prem is out of the question unless major backing
came in on top of what is already happening. The Prem say they
want a Yorkshire side in there but after our time there and
Leeds time there it is quite clear they are not that interested,
both clubs have suffered because of that ambition. As Rothman
has pointed out, the requirements are massive and if you are not
successful will create a massive problem financially.
What I would love to see is us have a solid season this year and
become a strong Championship side once again. For me the coach
is the most important part of the puzzle and with Harvey we have
a coach that can and will succeed there. We are lucky to have
him.
The squad we have built have the attributes to compete and
compete well in the Champ next year. It is going to be a tough
season and we will have to get up to speed quickly but we can do
that. The club and coaching team know what it takes to compete
in this league and I have every faith. The squad now has players
that can compete for positions across every position. Our first
15 from last season will have to work hard to keep their place
in the starting 15 which is an amazing thing to have. This will
only push us forward. We have talent, skill, pace, point
machines and power. We have a modern squad where every player
contributes well to the team. We need a massive squad to get
through the season, we need two first teams. It looks like we
achieved this and done it well.
You are correct Rothoik the standard is a big step up.
Personally I would say our side last season would have given
Mond a good game, look at Blackheath in the playoffs against
Scottish. With our signings we have improved again and
potentially improved by quite a way. We are coming into this
season with a massive winning mentality which is very important.
We have Fortress Clifton Lane. Mid table is the aim and I think
that is achievable with our squad and Coaching team.
Pre season is going to be very interesting. I think we will give
Newcastle a bloody good game to be honest. Exciting times ahead.
#Post#: 14126--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Winger14
Date: July 15, 2026, 6:07 pm
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Excellent post Chris, I agree 100%. Ambition is what drives
people on to do better, wether in Sport, your Job or your
Personal Life. But being Over Ambitious can be bad for you if
you don't have the Full Means to achieve your Aims.
Talking about our Club I admire their Ambition to try to reach
the Highest they can. Personally I believe that we have done
that now. I remember the First time that the Club Won promotion
to the Premiership, ( 2000 / 2001 ), that season wasn't a good
experience, we only Won 2 games, London Irish 19 - 18 H, and
Saracens 19 - 08 H, and were Relegated.
The following season, ( 2001- 2002 )we were Champions of Nat
League One, but the RFU refused to Promote us. The following
season ( 2002 - 2003 ) we were Champions of Nat League One
again, this time we were allowed to be Promoted, but Lost every
game, and we're Relegated once again.
This Relegation very, very nearly caused the Clubs Demise. This
was the Clubs Darkest Hour. Nick and Martin took over the
Running of the Club and with the Help of our Supporters,
Sponsors and Far to many other People to mention, the Club was
Saved. I'm sure that the ( 2004 - 2005 ) season is etched into
the memory of the majority of our Supporters. We were back in
Nat League One ( Finished 8th ) but we were Alive.
The way Rugby Union is currently in England there isn't a Club
now playing in the Championship that would survive in the
Premiership. In the, not to distant future, the RFU will "Help"
Worcester to gain Promotion into the Premiership, then the
Drawbridge will be raised.
The Championship will be used as a Feeder League so Players who
are good enough will get their chance in the Premiership.
My wish now is for the Club to become well Established in the
Championship and within a couple of Seasons to see us Battling
at the Top of the League.
#Post#: 14134--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Winger14
Date: July 21, 2026, 1:52 pm
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We, at the moment, have a squad of 43. What definitely lies
ahead iwill be some great competition for places in the Match
Day Squad.
In the Backs I thought that the players from Last Season would
be the players for this season with a few additions to
compliment them.
With the New Signings we've brought in its going to be
interesting to see who Harvey puts in the Squad for each game,
whoever is in means that there's going to be some TOP players
left out. Great to have such a strong set to choose from but
hard to keep the players who are left out, Happy.
With Lloyd we have a Match Winning goal kicker, so it will be
hard to leave him out unless we've signed a Better goal kicker,
is that possible?.
Looking at our Squad now, and not knowing the strength of other
Squads, I think that we will finish above Mid-Table. At this
time my Glass is Half-Full.
#Post#: 14139--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Winger14
Date: July 22, 2026, 6:45 pm
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With the way our Player recruitment is progressing we could
start the season with the biggest Squad I can remember for a
long time. With the possibility of still more Players to be
announced in the coming weeks it's going to be an awesome
Squad.
I would think that quite a few ( possibly most ) of the Clubs in
the Championship will be building smaller Squads and then
relying on Loan Ins and Duel Registered Players from the
Premiership Clubs.
If our Club stays away from Players from the Premiership and
remains relying on OUR Squad, then I will be Proud of the Club.
#Post#: 14182--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Winger14
Date: August 3, 2026, 4:59 pm
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We now have a squad of 52, with possibly more to come. We
have to except that the D of R and the Coaching Staff know what
they will be doing with a squad of so many Players. Even
allowing for Injuries, Loss of Form and Loaning Players to other
Clubs, its still a Big Squad. At the moment it's the size of Two
Match Day Squads + 6.
A Match Day Squad in the Champ consists of 23 players. 15 + 8
subs. The DoR and Coaches will decide on the make-up of the "
Bench " for each game.
We currently have signed 25 Backs ( including 6 Scrum-Half's? )
On Match days we require 7 to start and 2 or 3 on the Bench,
leaving 14 on 15 unused each game.
We currently have signed 27 Forwards. On Match days we require
8 to start and 5 or 6 on the Bench, leaving 13 or 14 unused
each game.
Once we have a CORE of players who will be in the match day
squads each week, possibly 30 to 35, that will leave a lot of
players to " Keep Happy ".
Has usual with me, I have every confidence that the Club /
Coaches / Players will give the Supporters a season to
Remember, and hopefully a Successful one.
#Post#: 14189--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Chris.Garbutt
Date: August 5, 2026, 10:23 am
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I think two match day squads is what is required to succeed in
the championship these days. We don’t have the luxury of the
option of dual registration players to make up numbers so it
seems we are building our own infrastructure with first choice
players fight for places and younger fringe players developing
alongside.
What we do have is some great local clubs below us in the
pyramid that it would be fantastic to loan some of these players
out to develop further!
What I will say is what a transformation we have gone through
from 5 or 6 seasons ago! Unrecognisable.
#Post#: 14190--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Rothoik
Date: August 5, 2026, 3:22 pm
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My Friends at Richmond have echoed the same sentiment, you need
a squad of 23 that is full on for 80 minutes and you need to
rotate that 23 regularly to keep up the pace and intensity match
b y match. Richmond matched some of the big guns for the first
60 minutes and then got blown away in the last 20. They are a
very good side and I think what we have here is a strong, deep
squad that Harvey will knit together to battle hard for
eachother and push each other to the limit on training. It will
be interesting to see if any of last seasons fringe players get
any first team game time. I also note that Newcastle have 2
games on the Saturday we play them. Their second game is against
Glasgow Warriors. I take it then, that we will play more of a
reserve Bulls team??
#Post#: 14244--------------------------------------------------
Re: What lies ahead
DIR By: Winger14
Date: August 15, 2026, 4:55 am
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What Lies Ahead from today is, us seeing the start of a new
Season, a new Ground layout and a new Squad of Players. There
will be new Expectations and new Ambitions, with new Hurdles to
overcome. Hopefully on the Field of Play there will be more Ups
than Downs. Again we'll be facing the unknown in a different,
Higher Level League.
The one KNOWN is that We the Supporters will be there, has we
have been for many years, Backing the Players and Shouting
encouragement throughout the Game. Anyone who talks to the
Players will know how much the " Noise " we make means to them.
With the Ground improvements that are to be made, we will have
to be patient, it's not going to be Five Minutes fix.
Hopefully most will be completed by the start of Next Season.
It's great to have a Fantastic looking Stadium, a Club can have
the Best looking Stadium in the World, but if they are not
successful on the Field of Play, its meaningless. I'd sooner
watch my Club playing on a Council Playing Field and Winning the
majority of games than watching them Lose the majority of games
playing in the "Stadium of Light".
Really looking forward to today and seeing some of the New
Signings. Here's to another Good and successful Season.
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