We decided that our only way up and to sustain a good standard of rugby in either North 1 or National 3 was to be playing local players.

Our goal over the coming years is to play in National 3 but it has to be sustainable.

We have had a lot of success over the previous seven years but we are certainly in a building phase and it looks very promising.

We have over the last three years built up an excellent position in the local area by attracting some excellent young players from Sheffield Medics, Hallam Universityand Rotherham.

The key to our success will be building on these relationships, in particular with Rotherham, who we look to support as they are the top club in the area.

As part of our relationship-building our full squad and committee will be attending the Rotherham v Bedford game this Sunday.

Our new players for the season will be inspired by the youthful Dave Scully, who has played for England, North, Yorkshire, Otley, Rotherham and Doncaster, and is still a Classic Lion.

Dave joined up with our club due to the pressures of the commitment required at National 1 where training is five days a week which was not possible due to his career in the fire service. Dave will be dictating play from either of the half-back positions and developing some excellent youngsters to play some quality rugby.

We have also been able to sign Simon Bunting, a Rotherham and Doncaster prop, who has been well respected in National league 1.

Simon, again due to work commitments, was not in a position to commit to professional rugby and wanted to play locally. The connection with Dave Scully, Harry Toews and Richard Selkirk was the deciding factor.

These guys are very respected players and it will be excellent for our young players and supporters to be able to play and watch them this season.

Hallam captain and fly half/full back Phil Dale, and utility back Tom Bray, from Hallam, have started well and will develop into excellent players this year.

The pack has seen Ashley Rockey, (Hallam, Cheshire and Lymn) a back row who likes the physical side of rugby but has excellent footballing skills, join up with Andy Nash (Sandbach, Hallam, Cheshire and Sale Sharks Accademy).

The second row has been strengthened by the addition of Bevan Wilkinson from Doncaster and Andrew Barnes, who has been recruited by Rotherham but is on loan to Tigers.

We are really pleased to have Andy back and we hope that he gets his chance with Rotherham.

Jon McMillan and Chris Warne complete the new boys and both are props who play either side and are from Rotherham and Hallam.

So the squad looks strong but it will take time for them to gel and come together playing the game we want to play.

The first league matches are away on September 13 and 20 to Cleckheaton and Morley and these will be tough games.

As we always say we will hope for a top five place at Christmas and look to see where we can improve.

Promotion is not even on our lips, as some of the clubs have recruited a lot of quality players and have far bigger backers.

Times are hard due to the whole economy and we really do need sponsors to come forward to sustain or improve the rugby in Sheffield.

You can watch good quality games and we offer excellent packages for corporate entertaining. Contact details are on our website www.sheffieldtigers.co.uk or come and watch a home game.

Last week we played Scunthorpe away and won convincingly by 30 points with Tom Bray scoring two tries and Gareth Morley, Bevan Wilkinson and Biff Pearson all scoring one apiece.

We were quite pleased with the performance, but we must step up the intensity and ball retention over the next two weeks.

This week we play Midlands club Hinckley who will be a sterner test and we must switch on and be 100 per cent committed to our game plan.

We are very pleased with how the developments are going but the potential is the most exciting we have put together.

We are still interested in new players and all are welcome as we will be successful over the coming years.

Our pitches are looking excellent and a good day should be had for all on Saturday so please come up and watch KO, 3pm.

Tigers: Dale, Morley, Outram, Spon- Smith, Bray, Scully, Drage, AN Other, Price, Bunting, Joel, Barnes, Barrett, Pearson, Rockey. Subs Wilkinson, Nash, Toews.



What do you think? Add your comments below

MORE:
Local News
Local Sport
Arts Guide
Listings Guide
Restaurant Guide
Letters