I HOPE you all enjoyed your summer break and, for all of you players hoping to do big things this season, that you have kept yourselves in great shape and are fit and raring to knuckle down to whatever challenges await you.

London Irish travelled up to Ealing to start their Greene King IPA Championship with a 20-7 victory over Ealing Trailfinders.

I am sure there was only one thing on their mind, and that’s to get back to the Premiership.

The opening proved understandably nervy for both sides surrendering possession in key areas of the pitch.

But Irish seemed to come out for the second period with more urgency and penetration, and the pack put significant pressure on Trailfinders. Lets hope they can do it again this week at home against Nottingham.

Rams certainly have as they kicked-off their National Two South season with a great 44-15 home win against Canterbury.

This Saturday they embark on the first of their away matches with a trot up to Sunbury-on-Thames to play London Irish Wild Geese, a side they beat twice last season scoring 96 points to just 28.

My boys Reading are certainly raring to go and kick-off their Southern Counties North campaign at Holme Park under skipper Charlie Davies along with a few new squad members, including the Burns brothers (Luke and Tom), who joined from Abbey.

We have our first game at home which is always a bonus. Head coach Ben Wills has said this game will be a good test against newcomers Marlow, who have come down from the league above.

As for Reading Abbey, they are also at home, taking on another of newcomers, Littlemore. This will be the first full season Luke Harding will have had as head coach and I am sure he will want to make sure the team put in a good season.

Berkshire Shire Hall are also opening up their BB&O Championship campaign, under new skipper Matt Margot, with a quick sprint up the M4 to face Slough based Phoenix.

There’s plenty of incentive for Hall as they finished a place behind and seven points adrift of Phoenix last season and much was due to the fact they lost both home and away to Phoenix.