Trowbridge Rugby Club Director of Rugby Ali Lund believes his young group can push on from the club’s highest ever league finish.

Last season’s sixth place in the sixth tier was Trowbridge’s best-ever season in their history, but there was still disappointment at how they ended with five straight defeats.

Lund revealed that despite that historic season, the players are already hungry to improve on what they had done.

He said: “On the one hand sixth position was amazing because it was the highest ever position the club have ever finished in and the second team also got promoted.

“But they boys were actually frustrated, even though it sounds really good, they want more, no doubt in terms of goals for this coming season is to improve on that and be in amongst the contenders for the league title.

“Before the season we weren't making any predictions because that was coming post COVID and nobody really knew what to expect as we hadn't played rugby for 18 months.

“We've got a young side, local players, loads of talent, ambitious players, who play rugby the right way, and we are trying to put on a really entertaining show for our community and our home form was generally very, very good through the season.

“But, in terms of seeing out games, in terms of the attitude, dedication and commitment that it takes to be in the title, runners and riders, that is our lesson learned, we let too many games slip away.

“And then, we ended up in the middle of the pack, rather than fighting for title at the end of the season.

“It's no secret that we are looking at our recruitment and we will be announcing some new signings and combined with the fact that we're retaining our squad, and they're going to be a year older, there's no reason why we shouldn't really be in and amongst it.”

There is real optimism around Trowbridge heading into next season, but with the RFU’s reshuffle of the divisions, it is another year where it is tough to know what to expect.

Lund said: “We are trying to develop the club on some pretty solid values, which we know over time will get us success.

“Whether that be a mini-player, a junior player, a girl, ladies, second team, third team, whatever and these values are hard work, discipline, respect, enjoyment and if we get those things right, the accumulative effect of it is outstanding performances.

“We've remained at level six, but our league is quite a different league to what it was last year.

“We've got some teams like Cheltenham and Chosen Hill from the Gloucester Cheltenham region and these are clubs that have not traditionally been in our league. So, again, there's that element of the unknown.

“But if we can get that recruitment right if the players can show the required level of commitment, I see no reason why we cannot be competing at the very top of the table.”