HEAD coach Mark Lea may struggle to be there in person when Swindon College Old Boys tangle with their first game in their new division but is hopeful his troops can hit the ground running.

College earned promotion to Southern Counties North following their second-placed finish in the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier last term and start their season with a trip to Beaconsfield on Saturday.

Lea reckons that their Buckinghamshire hosts may be more prepared for this weekend’s curtain-raiser but is in no doubt that his players’ enthusiasm levels are through the roof ahead of the big kick-off.

“I’m away with work in India. I fly back on Saturday, so we’ll have to see if I can make it,” said Lea.

“I’ve been keeping in touch with what’s been going on whilst I’ve been away and Martin Lloyd, our director of rugby, will be taking charge.

“We’ve only had one pre-season game against Corsham, so we might be a bit undercooked. But from what I can see, the boys are excited and hopefully we can get off to a good start.”