Looking to the upcoming 2010/11 season

It is difficult to find a way to begin a preview of next season without resorting to cliché. So, once again, I will reflect that last season was both challenging and disappointing but that we look forward to the forthcoming season with enthusiasm and optimism. However, I genuinely feel that there a reasons to look forward positively into the next 12 months.

Last year was marked by a postponed game, a game abandoned due to frost, selection challenges due to the inability to get players released and that was before we even got to the inter-services. The Navy’s desire to beat the Army at Twickenham saw them demonstrate a significant degree of commitment as a Service to ensuring that their squad got an extended period of quality time together the benefits of which were demonstrated in our being on the receiving end of a heavy defeat. This was followed by the failure of the Army to make our home fixture at Newbury as a consequence of being stuck in South Africa because of the volcanic ash cloud.

Despite these frustrations, a number of players new to the Senior squad came through from the U23 and Divisional squads and made their mark. Thus, the management have decided to build upon these foundations with the aim being to maximise the potential in the squad whilst endeavouring to limit the impact of Service commitments.

The first step in this process has been to endeavour to get the squad fitter, stronger and faster than in previous years. All have been provided with a strength and conditioning programme with regular testing opportunities and mentoring from Vets players. The second step was to revise the season structure such that we minimise the risk of weather having a negative impact and on the belief that it might be easier to get players released for short periods every other month or so. Thus the season will start in September with a trip to Bedford Blues and be followed by fixtures against Saracens and Northampton Saints, along with the traditional games in the New year against Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

All of this is designed to better prepare the squad for the 2011 inter-services with our fixtures taking place on 20 (Army at Aldershot) and 27 April (Navy at home). We have asked that these fixtures are played relatively close together with the aim of trying to keep the squad together for as long as possible. Lastly, we are also looking forward to a potential inter-services world cup to be held in Australia in 2011 designed to coincide with the Rugby Union World Cup in New Zealand. If the event goes ahead as currently planned by the Australian Defence Force it will undoubtedly be a career highlight for those selected.

And so back to the cliché: After a difficult season in 2009/10 we are looking forward to a much stronger 2010/11. We have certainly sought to make the changes to preparation in order to give the players every chance of success. Here’s looking forward to it!

Ewan Lawson

Director RAF 1^st XV