KINGSBRIDGE RFC are back at pre-season training ready for the new 2012-13 season under the watchful eye of new senior coach Nick Burnett.                                                     

Nick, who is a policeman, lives in Ivybridge and joins the club for his first role in coaching, following his retirement from the game in 2011.

During his career he played for Lydney, Plymouth Albion, Launceston, Mounts Bay and he captained Taunton during his final season. He has also represented Devon and the Barbarians. 

The club is delighted to welcome Nick to Kingsbridge and hopes that his senior playing experience and passion for the game can help the club recover from a poor 2011-12 season in the Western Counties West league, where the team flirted with relegation for much of the year. 

The squad have recently been alternating their Tuesday and Thursday sessions between Bantham beach and their home ground at High House.

Beach fitness sessions have been overseen by club physiotherapist John Moore, who brings his wealth of experience working at Exeter Chiefs to the senior playing squad. 

It has been a matter of all change on the playing front this summer, with new captains and vice captains for both of the senior teams.

New arrival Neil Elliott (who has returned to the club from near neighbours Salcombe) takes over at the helm of the 1st XV with Matt Barlow as his second in command. In the A XV Andrew Horton is captain with Dan Barlow as his assistant. 

Kingsbridge Colts have also begun their build-up to the new season under the watchful eye of coach Tim Beattie. The colts enjoyed an excellent season in 2011-12 and will be hoping to build on that success with a strong playing squad in the coming season. 

Warm up / training fixtures for all three of the 'Kings' senior teams will take place during the last two weeks of August before the start of league and merit table fixtures at the beginning of September.

Registration and training for the 11 age groups of the junior section will commence on Friday, September 7.

The under sixes to under 11s will train every Friday from 6.30pm until 7.30pm and the under 12s to under 15s will train from 7.30pm until 8.30pm. Training for the under 16s will take place on Wednesday evenings. 

All current and prospective players and parents are welcome at the club on a Friday evening, where club hosts Howard and Liz Turner and their team of staff provide a welcoming atmosphere and keep players and parents suitably well fed and watered with an excellent bar and catering service.

 At the recent annual general meeting of Kingsbridge Rugby Football Club, the following officers were duly elected for the forthcoming 2012-13 season: president – Jonathan Robinson, chairman – Phil Darke, vice chairman – Nick Hurst, hon. treasurer – Andrew Whittaker, hon. secretary – Martin Newman, hon. match secretary – Patrick Robinson, hon. fixture secretary – Mike Jones, sponsorship secretary – Geoff Robins' juniors chairman – Simon Gotch, ground chairman – Kevin Harvey and rugby chairman – Rob Masters. 

Thanks were extended to Mrs Jane Partridge, the retiring treasurer and to Ian Brooking, the retiring juniors chairman.