How has pre-season been and what can you tell us about how the senior sides are shaping up?
Pre-season has been excellent this year and with consistently good numbers. We have been able to really put the lads through a variety of skills, fitness and structure work. We have prioritised doing more of our fitness through conditioned games and really focusing on game specific fitness as opposed to just making lads run for the sake of it. As you would expect, we’ve also evolved our structures and developed players skill sets to support the way we’re trying to play. We’ll still set out to play entertaining and attractive rugby but we’ve also looked and how we can adapt when required.

We’re looking forward to turning 3 senior sides out once again and the playing base of players has certainly improved which fills me with great confidence as we head towards the start of the season.

You talked about the squad of players improving, what can you tell us about who were likely to see this year?
We’ve pretty much the same faces as last year but will be without scrum half, Ben Hockenhull who has gone off travelling for a short period of time. Joel Barker (hooker) is a major signing for us after brief stints at Sale FC and Rossendale and we’re really excited to see Joel back in the colours of Warrington where he played his junior rugby. Also returning are Jack Hannon (scrum half), Luke Gilooly (utility bag) and Big El Johnston (front row) having all spent time travelling last season. A fresh and slimmer Matt Hennessey (scrum half) returns after relocating back this way. Jonny Evans (back row) has recovered from a lengthy injury and we’re looking forward to welcoming many of last year’s senior colts into the senior playing sides. The squad looks healthy and I’m looking forward to seeing the lads push each other to earn their shirts.

What are the aims for the season across all the senior sides?

Lets start with how good it will be to see us turning 3 sides out again this year as we find ourselves in a position to enter the newly formed social league. This is a fantastic idea and one were really looking forward to engaging with. Plenty of ex/retired players plan to return which will be great to see and it will be a great opportunity to keep people involved in the game.

Excitement is high for the 2nd team with new coach Shaun McDermott and new captain Craig Byrne. Following on from their strong finish last season, they will still ply their trade in the extremely competitive Division 1 and will be pushing themselves to again finish in the top half of the table. With more consistency of availability, I expect to see the 2s play some excellent rugby and I’m sure there will be lads eager to impress to push themselves into a 1st team shirt.

From a 1st team point of view, the league continues to get tougher and tougher and as a truly amateur club, it comes with its challenges. I’m not going to come out and say we’ll get promoted as we all know that’s what we’d like, but realistically who knows what will happen throughout the course of the season. That said, both John and I have very high expectations of this group of players and anything less than a top half of the table finish would be extremely disappointing. What I will say though is we will always set out to play entertaining, attacking rugby which is (in my eyes) how the game should be played.

We know the pre season games are just around the corner. What do you want to see from these matches?
We’ve put together an excellent pre season schedule of games, which will give both a John and I an opportunity to see a number of players in competitive action. I talked before about competition for places being a key ingredient to success and these pre season fixtures are a great opportunity for players to lay down a marker and cement their shirt for the opening league fixture. First up this Saturday is Winnington Park which will be a great fixture and good for us to be tested against a side that have just been promoted into the league below. We’ll be looking at a few combinations and seeing how people fare in different positions to give us the utility we’ll need in the season. Some coaches would say the result is unimportant and whilst the performance side of things is what your after, we all know that’s it’s nice to win and we’ll certainly be aiming to do that.

We then travel to Caernarfon for another competitive fixture but we’ll also be enjoying the social aspect of an away trip. The social aspect is what continues to drive rugby clubs like ours and it’s important we provide opportunities for the lads to get together. It will be a great weekend and should be another opportunity for players to impress.

Our final pre-season game with Widnes on Thursday 23td will give us more game time, but also give the players the bank holiday weekend off to spend with their families or do whatever they want - which for many will no doubt be a trip to Wembley to watch Warrington. I recognise it’s a long season and with not many free weekends, it’s important we give the lads whatever time we can.

It’s clear, there is lots of optimism and excitement surrounding this season but what’s the long term vision for you and the club.
I’m incredibly proud to continue to be in the position I am as Head Coach and I love every minute of what I do. We’ve got a great crop of players currently and with the talented conveyor belt of junior talent coming through, the future looks incredibly bright for Warrington RUFC and I certainly want to continue to play a part in that. I’d love to see us develop into a National League club and with the work that’s going on off the pitch now, there is genuine belief that long term the club could support a National League team.

Any final thoughts?
I would urge you all to get down to the club this year to watch the senior sides. Your support is always well received by the players and I’m sure you will be excited and entertained with our brand of rugby. I look forward to seeing many of you throughout the season and here’s hoping for another great season.