LUCTONIANS have looked a short distance north to boost their backs ahead of the new season.

Will Sparrow and Joe Doyle have made the short distance from Ludlow to link up with the Mortimer Park club.

"They both seem to have enjoyed our more professional outlook in pre-season," said Luctonians' director of rugby Alex Davidson.

"They are both improving as players and have great potential.

"They both play in the back three and will help to fill the void left by Drew Cheshire, who has moved on to Moseley."

Luctonians have also brought in prop Brad Smith from Ledbury and Jack Sealey from Worcester.

"They are both young players who will be knocking on the door," said Davidson.

After the forced retirement from playing of Davidson himself and Paul Hulland's decision to hang up his boots, there has been some welcome good news about forward players.

"Chris Jaques has had a full pre-season and is determined to get in a full season after his broken leg," said Davidson. "Chris Harris is also back after concussion and a hamstring problem.

"Richard Jones, who has been working abroad, is also back and we have found him employment nearby.

"We have a small pack and we need some of these big lumps."

There has also been a key addition to the coaching staff with the arrival of Ryan Watkins as a backs coach.

"Ryan has coached at Malvern and in the AASE programme at Worcester Warriors," said Davidson.

"He will play at fly-half, too, and give us some direction.

"And we still have Viv Wooley, whom we call the Oracle. We can go to him with any queries we have."

Davidson, whose team finished 10th in National Two North last season, is optimistic about the coming season.

"We are always aiming for the upper quarter but will probably be in and around mid-table," he said.

"But we are still on the look-out for new players - some of the bigger clubs start with a squad of 50 and then there is a shake-out as they cut back to around 30.

"That is where we can benefit."

Stourbridge are Davidson's tip to head the division for the coming term.

"They will be looking to push on and have let themselves down over the last couple of seasons," he said.

Stourbridge will be Luctonians' second opponents of a season which begins with a trip to Sheffield on Saturday.

"It's not the most salubrious place to go with concrete changing rooms and just a handful of supporters," he said.

We've not done so great there in the past but we are the fittest we have ever been and will hoping to catch them cold."