A PUMPED up Dudley Kingswinford RFC are determined to put last year’s relegation to Midlands Division Two well and truly in the past as they set their sights on a successful promotion season.

The Heathbrook outfit suffered the season from hell last term, which ended with them picking up the wooden spoon in Midlands Division One but after a summer of re-building the future is looking bright.

Joint head coach Neil Shillingford: “We are all very much looking forward to the new season with fresh optimism.

“Last season was very disappointing for everyone and some people have mentioned that this season could be one of consolidation but the players are focussed on getting on promotion.

“Pre-season form has been very encouraging and if we can steer clear of injuries we are looking forward to exciting things.”

While the first team struggled to win last year, the club’s thriving Colts side enjoyed an incredible season of success and with a host of the club’s youngsters now making that step up to the first team Shillingford believes the club’s future is looking bright.

He added: “We introduced quite a few of the Colts at the latter end of last season and we believe that taste of first team rugby was an excellent exercise.

“They have now had a full pre-season with the first team and in the games we have had as well as training you are now struggling to tell who were Colts players which is excellent news.”

One of the first moves made after the end of last year’s torturous campaign was the decision for head coaches Shillingford and Mark Lockley to relinquish their similar roles they held with the Colts.

The move will now allow them to solely concentrate on first team matters with Simon Hart and John Griffiths taking up the role of Colts head coaches.

Due to major redevelopment of the Heathbrook changing rooms Dudley will have to play away from home for the first two months of the season starting with a trip to Whitchurch this Saturday.

Hoping to make his debut will be New Zealand scrum half Rob Harlow.

Harlow is expected to be joined by two more un-named Kiwis by the end of month.

Unavailable for the season opener will be captain Ben Connett and Andy McEwan.