"After our pre season fixtures went really well with the teams performance. It was great to see the combination of the new young players coming through mixed with our regular senior players and some of which have returned from long term injuries, have given us coaches a real excitement for the start of this new season which we have missed over the previous one. There is nothing better then having your opening game away to probably one of the toughest places to go knowing to well that Walsh pride themselves on there home ground and we have prepared the players for a hard first 10 mins of the start as we remembered the last time we played them up there we were 14 points down in as many minutes. But we turned it round into a one sided affair and put I think 60 points passed them and then go on to win the league. So tomorrow we start this season off with new players young and old, new ideas in set piece and open play and there is definitely a massive feel of positive determination from everyone to win the league and go back to where we belong in the National leagues." Forwards coach, Lee Soper.

Images by Jamcel Photos, full album available on facebook.

"All the lads have been working hard in preseason with a big 1s v 2s game last week where a lot of boys performed well to either secure their shirt or take it from someone else. After last year we are hoping to get back to winning ways and get promoted back in to national 3 where we think we belong. I believe if we had the depth in our squad last season like we do know we wouldn't have been relegated. North Walsham will be a big test though I remember a few seasons ago playing away there and they referred to their ground as their fortress and not many teams bet them there, we managed to in our promotion season and we hope to do the same again this season." 1st Xv Captain, Liam Pickett.

NEW INSIGHTS!

Senior Chairman Jon Smith will be providing a brief preview of team news for the weekend in the upcoming Friday Raven Mads. To kick off here are the teams for tomorrow. Watch this space...

NEW KIT!

The 1st XV have new shirts which they designed themselves with input from our official kit supplier STC and the generous financial support of partners Whitehall Resources, SRC Aggregates, Collier & Catchpole and St Joseph’s College . The squad is pictured courtesy of Van Cols ...

NEW REGISTRATIONS!

It’s Youth & Minis Registration Day this Sunday 3rd September so make sure you’re up bright & early! Registration takes place in the clubhouse. Youth & mini training also starts THIS Sunday. For any more info please contact Ross Cowie. The Club Shop is brimming with kit so make sure you bring plenty of spending money!

NEW FACES!

In addition to the new Exec Members we welcomed last week, we’re delighted to welcome Stuart Waters as Membership Sec and Rasa D’Alton as Finance Officer. Full update on new PLAYERS next week.

NEW PARTNERSHIPS!

We’re transforming the way we work with our commercial partners. It’s all explained in the web site’s Information Section where you can download the brochure and find full contact details. If you’re a Partner then book your lunches soon as we’re over half full already!

NEW EVENTS!

We’ve a packed calendar of events for this season starting with a Ladies Night tomorrow, Saturday evening. Full details on the web site and posters around club. Your club needs you support! Please find more events below.

NEW FIXTURE CARDS!

We’ve swapped the big & bulky Handbook for a thin & focused Fixtures & Contacts Card. These will be issued with memberships but if you want a copy then just ask at the bar.

NEW VACANCIES!

We’re looking for a new Press Officer and Marketing Executive as the current incumbents move on. These are one-year apprenticeships that are great fun and great experience. Job Descriptions are on the web site.

NEW FREE LUNCH!

We’ve still got a few (OK, a lot) of Double Centurion spaces left. If you sign up before Christmas you’ll get a FREE LUNCH at a 1st XV match of our choice worth £20! Details on web or contact Kim Waters to join.

NEW LADIES NIGHT!

Saturday, 2nd September

Yes, it's our FIRST EVER Ladies Night!

Tickets are just £15 and the doors open at 7pm.

See flyer (right) for details; See Claire for tickets.

All proceeds are going to Help for Heroes.

NEW ACCOUNTING SYSTEM!

OK, not quite as exciting as the above - unless of course you’re a blue shirt / brown tie bean counter! We’ve moved to Xero cloud accounting as the first step to improving club operations with many more changes on the way.

NEW WAYS OF WORKING!

There's plenty going on across our social media all the time. Keep up to date with all CRFC news, Throwback Thursday as well as notices and video highlights. If you head over to our YouTube channel you can witness all the tries from Colchester DURING LAST SEASON.

So, make sure you follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop. You can also find videos of all the tries from this season and last on our YouTube channel and all the behind the scenes action and live game highlights are on our snapchat: colchesterrugby.

Good luck to all our players this weekend!