ANOTHER new season dawns and during the next few weeks, our local coaches and players will start to see just how effective their pre-season training has been.

Training’s the easy part really. I’m sure there’s many that would dispute that, but it is the league performance every Saturday which truly underlines the strength, the teamwork and overall capabilities of any squad playing at any level.

As we all know it’s a hard slog with many twists and turns along the way, but there’s nothing like celebrating promotion at the end of a season.

Did you know this is the 30th season of league rugby since it was first introduced by the RFU back in the 1987/88 season? You may well have had your spats with the RFU over the years, but the ultra-smooth introduction of league rugby was one of their greatest successes.

London Irish are back in the Premiership and we wish them the best of luck as they kick off with the Double Header at Twickenham against Harlequins on Saturday.

They've recruited well and I am sure they will hold on this season and stay up there.

Redingensians Rams start their National Two South campaign with a cracking derby at Henley Hawks, the first of 30 they will play this season.

Former Director of Rugby Mike Tewkesbury has stepped down to concentrate on young-player development, so Seb Reynolds is new head coach assisted by former club skipper Owen Root as forwards coach and another ex-player, Danny Batty, taking charge of the backs.

As for my boys Reading and town rivals Reading Abbey, we both kick-off our respective campaigns on Saturday, September 9.

It will be be a nervous day for our new young head coach Ben Willis, currently a RFU Area Player Development Officer, as he watches his new charges in league action for the first time, led by back row Charlie Davies.

Another Berkshire side, Windsor, are also in the league and it is going to be an interesting one.

Only two can get promoted back up to South West One East and all of us want to.