DIRECTOR of rugby Neil Shillingford is looking forward to a season of local derbies as his Dudley Kingswinford players returned to training this week.

Now the dust has settled on last season, all eyes will now be on how the side can progress into a dominant force in the league.

“We are obviously going into this season with the aim of promotion,” Shillingford said. “But with just one week of pre-season done there are still a lot of twists and turns left.

“Pre-season is going well. There has been a good turn-out across the teams, not just with the first XV but throughout the club.

“We have made very good changes to the squad and are really trying to add strength in depth. It’s not just a group of 18 players that are needed.

“Hopefully we can continue to bring the right players in to help us achieve our goals.”

This season will have added spice, with the prospect of facing two bitter rivals – Stourbridge Lions and Bromsgrove.

Shillingford said: “It’s going to be another tough season, especially with the addition of the Stourbridge and Bromsgrove games.

“But I think we are all looking forward to them. I know the rivalry we’ve had with Stourbridge might not be as intense as it was in the past, but I’m sure the fans will be right up for the game.

“From the clubs point of view it will be great to see the ground packed out and these kind of games always change the atmosphere.

“It definitely does mean something to the players too. Whenever you play against a local rival you always step up your game and I know our lads will be really up for them.”

The club’s first cup fixtures of the season were announced this week, with DK’s 1st XV set to travel to Hereford on August 26.

Shillingford added: “We are really interested in a cup run this year. The more games we can play, the more we test ourselves and create a winning mentality.

“But our focus will be on the league, because we really feel that we have a squad capable of taking us all the way.”