Luctonians have found it hard to recruit during the summer months

Luctonians director of rugby Alex Davidson says his side are ready for the challenges they will face in National Two North.

The Herefordshire club will open with a home game against Leicester Lions.

"The facility is looking great and we need to make sure the rugby is up to the same standard," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"We need to hit the ground running in our National Two campaign although we know it is a major step up in class."

Luctonians won their place in the top 72 clubs in the country with a play-off victory at Stockport at the end of last season.

Davidson admits that many Luctonians officials saw their promotion as something of a surprise but they are determined to make the most of it.

"It was getting too close to D-day as it were to bring in too many new faces so we have focused on upskilling and getting the most out of the boys we have got," he said.

"We have been working on finding some combinations with a couple of new players.

"Any team that comes here has got an hour to travel once they get off the motorway so we have to get them here and then get stuck into them."

Davidson rejoined Luctonians as director of rugby during the summer, after spending eight seasons in the Championship with Birmingham & Solihull.

He says Luctonians can look at their opening opponents as an example of how to survive in National Two.

"Leicester have been up at this level for three or four years and have finished mid-table every time," he said.

"I think they finished fifth or sixth last season so they are seasoned campaigners now.

"Talking to people in the league they seem to like the wetter weather when they can rely on their pack dominance.

"But either end of the season they fancy themselves to try and throw the ball a bit wider so it should be a good even contest."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version