IT may be the middle of summer but the local rugby teams have already begun training in preparation for the new season. Reporter GARETH MOORHOUSE talks to the coaches about their ambitions for 2006/7.

BRADFORD ON AVON: BRADFORD will be making waves in Dorset and Wilts One this season if club coach Dave George has anything to do with it.

In preparation for another year of bumps, bruises and breaks, George is heading off to the Western Isle of Tiree to try his hand at surfing. But it's not just on the waters of the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean that George will have to complete a delicate balancing act.

Closer to home the exodus of first team players has battered the Bradford squad, leaving George to pick up the pieces ahead of the new season. Veteran full back Aiden Blowers has finally hung up his boots and fly half Jamie Curtis has moved to London to start a new job.

Flying wingers Jonny Viner and Struan Grant have left Bradford for clubs in Northern Ireland and Scotland respectively, while second row Chris Heale will be throwing his weight around in New Zealand come September.

"The spine of the team has basically gone," said George.

"It's typical around Bradford. People move in and out of the area all the time and you just have to deal with it." George had planned to retire at the end of last season to concentrate on coaching. He is currently working towards his RFU level three badge.

But the lack of experience in the Ashley Lane squad may force the fiery forward into the line of duty for one final campaign. He said: "I guess it's back to the drawing board. I had planned to spend pre-season working on tactics and player profiles but I'll have to get in shape myself."

Despite the high-profile departures, George is confident he can mould his remaining players into a competitive unit before the start of the new season in September. Pre-season friendlies against North Dorset on September 2 and Warminster on September 9 will give the coach an early indication of his success.

"Throughout the summer we will be working on a defensive strategy. I want to make sure both the first and second team players know the calls so we can operate more as a squad," he said. "Last season I think we focussed too much on the first team. We don't want to ignore the players on the fringe because they are important members of the club.

"Attendances at training have been good so far and I hope that continues. The lads have got to give me back what I'm putting in." If new floodlights at Bradford's Broom Ground are anything to go by, the future would appear to be bright for the Wiltshire club.

Protests from nearby residents had delayed planning permission for the lights, but now they are finally in place George can put his pre-season plans into action. He said: "Last season the whole squad were training in a 30-metre square under one floodlight.

"In that kind of environment you are severely limited as to what you can do. There's no way I could have conducted any individual coaching.

"With the new floodlights we have no excuses not to practice and prepare properly throughout the whole season."

A disappointing end to the 2005/06 campaign saw Bradford fall away from the promotion places to finish the season in fourth. By September, George will be riding the crest of a wave and says nothing less than third will do this time around.