Colts provide boost ahead of season

STRATFORD’s director of rugby Richard Pepperell admits he is optimistic ahead of the new season which starts on Saturday.

The Regional Two Midlands West side face league newcomers Ledbury at Pearcecroft and there could be several new faces involved.

Pepperell said: “I’m the most optimistic I have been at the start of a new season for many years. This is my sixth season and I was confident in the first one because we had just been relegated and I thought we could bounce back, which we did. But this is the most optimistic I’ve been since then.