TROWBRIDGE Rugby Club started training for the new season on Tuesday in preparation for the new season when they take their place in South West Two East after winning the Southern Counties South title last season.

They will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 for 7.30pm and this will also give an opportunity to any local player who wants to test their level of performance at South West Two level as they will be made very welcome.

Any enquiries can be made via the club's website www.trowbridgerfc.co.uk or by telephoning Mac McHugh on 07929 716052.

It is expected that all of last year's squad will be available and McHugh is optimistic about the club's chances in the new league after the significant improvements over the last two years when the club achieved their highest league positions since the leagues started in the 1980s.

Adam Sullivan will continue to captain the first team and Graeme Morrison will take charge of the second team and they will play in Dorset and Wilts Two North.

He expects to strengthen last year's team by bringing through players from last year's successful Colts side and also the return of some more experienced players who did not play last season.

Chris Coombs will captain the third team which provides "social" rugby in Dorset and Wilts Three West.

Trowbridge will enter a new era in more ways than one when they start next season. After becoming champions of Southern Counties South last season they will be playing at level six in South West Two East for the first time and their opponents will include teams like Cheltenham, Reading and High Wycombe who have all played in the National Leagues in the past.

They are also expected to be doing so without a settled home base as withthe movement from Green Lane to Hilperton it is not expected that either of the sites will be available to play matches in 2008/09. Instead they are expecting to be playing their home matches at Bath University.

Their nearest neighbours will be Salisbury, Swanage and Wareham and Cheltenham, with six teams in the Reading area and two near Milton Keynes so there will be an increase in travelling.

Their first league match is at Bletchley on September 13 and this is followed by a visit to Maidenhead before their first home match against Reading Abbey.

All of the first team squad who played last season are expected to be available with the exception of Luke Brown who returned to Withycombe towards the end of last season but Francis Chandler has returned to the fold.