Game on! Saturday 4th September KO 3pm Bridgwater and Albion RFC

Albion’s last competitive match in South West One (West) was away at Newton Abbot on March 8th 2020 when the Bridgy boys were too strong for their hosts and ran out the comfortable 19-43 winners.

After that in view of Covid the league programme was suspended and there was no rugby played at this level at all last season. It has been a very long wait and everybody in the Albion camp, the players the management and the supporters are all delighted to back,

Looking ahead to this weekend Geoff Sluman the Albion Director of Rugby said: “ It’s is great to be talking about rugby again and despite the fact that there has been no league rugby for 18 months, a lot of people have been working hard at our club and we have so many people and sponsors to thank, so our sincere thanks to all that have helped us through a difficult period.

“The players and coaches have been working hard in between lockdowns but who knows if we are well prepared for league rugby again?

“It is fairly ridiculous to say we need more time to prepare but we are always seeing things that we want to improve so that now just has to fit into the league programme. We won’t know for certain how good our preparations have been until we have played a few games.

“Our first game of the season is at home against Wellington RFC , who were promoted from Western Counties at the end of last campaign, which means nothing other than they are a good side and good enough to win a promotion so we need to be firing on all cylinders.

“In the last league season two teams that were relegated into our league, who you would expect to do well because of their experience of playing at a higher level, both struggled and I think one was relegated out of our league. Whereas, the sides that won promotion did well and one of them pushed for promotion again. That just teaches us to have total respect for Wellington and to expect a very difficult game.”

The Director of Rugby went on: “Our coaching team has remained constant since COVID impact but Carl Rimmer has taken the lead role. Our playing squad has changed and whilst we have lost some experienced and quality players we have also gained some. Although it is too early to say at this stage I would expect some debutants for our first XV next week.”

Sluman added: “Kick off on Saturday is at 3pm and there is lots of space outside to maintain social distancing if and when required so please come on down and support the Albion if you can.”