RAMS’ captain Robbie Stapley believes this year’s National One could be the strongest his side have faced since reaching the third tier of English rugby.
The Old Bath Road outfit finished second in their maiden campaign back in the Covid-shortened 2019/20 season, before a sixth-placed finish when rugby resumed two years later.
Last term they were involved in a thrilling three-way battle for the title before ultimately missing out after drawing one less game than champions Cambridge – the two teams finishing equal on 114 points from a possible 130 – but Stapley expects things to be even tougher this time round as Rams begin against visitors Birmingham Moseley on Saturday (3pm).
He said: “Each year it seems to get stronger and stronger, and the way the sport went last year with three (Premiership) teams disappearing (Wasps, Worcester and London Irish), it’s probably 45 or 50 blokes from each of them filtering into other sides.
“They’ll knock others out and then they drop down, some maybe wanting a bit less commitment but still able to play a high level, but there are naturally some better players coming into our league which is very exciting.
“It’s another challenge all the guys are looking forward to.”
Rams’ themselves have made several off-season signings, the young ex-London Irish trio Ben Atkins, Calum Scott and George Makepeace-Cubitt joined by scrum-half Ed Hoadley, Cornwall captain and fly-half Fraser Honey, Nottingham prop Liam Bishop and fans’ favourite Zach Clow, the former London Scottish back three man completing his loan switch from London Scottish.
And the skipper believes the new boys have settled in well.
He continued: “Pre-season’s been good, although the weather’s not been the best, and I feel like I’ve done more of it than ever before. I’ve enjoyed running around and seeing and meeting a lot of younger new lads, trying to guide them.
“Togetherness is key. The guys who’ve been here all know each other, so it there’s someone you don’t you need to make them feel welcome, get them relaxed and then you’ll get the best out of them.
“If they’re uptight, uncomfortable, and not enjoying it they’ll not play their best rugby because they’ll be too worried.”
Despite two defeats on the recent tour to Ireland, the No. eight felt it was still a success as he said: “Off the field you get to bond, socialise, and make friendships you might not usually make – in the environment away you’re just around people and it’s great, you enjoy each other’s company and there’s a nice atmosphere.
“Lansdowne (a 17-7 setback) played a similar game to what we like to do by smothering us, and ultimately, they were the better side.
“We possibly didn’t piece things together exactly how we wanted, but there were a lot of positives with some youngsters coming through and Rossy (Crame) also had an outstanding game.
“Cork Constitution (24-12) was a very good game, we did well at the start, especially in the scrum. Prior to that game we’d maybe been a little relaxed, but (forwards coach) Owen (Root) had got into us and said, ‘it’s not been on’.
“Ryan Lomas did well on the loosehead, Colin (Thomson) and Connor (Stapley) got some good time, Ed and Fraser worked well (at half-back).
“With the changes of personnel there were a couple of miscommunications, but that’s fine and something we can work on.
“They put us under pressure and as a new bunch of guys we had to answer questions of how they’d got outside us or broken through, but I thought we came together and did that.”
With all eyes now on the league, Stapley is just four tries short of equalling Jez Flynn’s all-time record of 101 for the club, and the captain ended: “I didn’t score many last year which was a bit disappointing – I was hoping to get there last year.
“But maybe if I can get up to speed, I can hang off the shoulder of Zach, Axel (Kalling-Smith), Birdy and co and poach five this time.”
By Richard Ashton
