CLEVE Rugby Club will start the season with a new director of rugby, new head coach and backs coach.
Director of rugby Lenrie Sheriffe is the prime mover organising coaches and players to be ready for next season.
The First XV are training, with new head coach Paul Vinnicombe and new backs coach Lewis McKissic, every Thursday night at 6.30pm, along with the second team and Colts (U18).
Training is full, but new players are always welcome.
The season starts in September, with a home game against Longlevens on the 2nd, but the team is getting ready by playing warm-up games in August, starting on the 5th, when the first team hosts Imperial at 2.30 pm.
A colts match is programmed to run parallel to the first team game, and the clubhouse has a cider festival on, with ice cream for kids.
The game on the pitch is followed by a live TV game in the clubhouse, England versus Wales.
This the start of live TV coverage at the club. With the Rugby World Cup starting in September, Cleve are hoping people will come to the club to watch either the rugby on the field or World Cup Rugby in the bar.
The club house is also under new management, with a new selection of beers and food available.
Bare Grills Smokehouse are providing food during the afternoon of the festival on August 5.
There is a second home warm-up game versus Combe Down on August 19, again with live international rugby on TV in the clubhouse, as Ireland take on England at 5.30pm.
A working party has been held to make sure the club looks spick and span for the new season. There was a really good turnout of players, past and present, who rolled up their sleeves, did gardening and much-needed maintenance.
Steve Bateman