In an article from our ‘Engage’ supplement, UCS Old Boys head coach Charlie Esdon previews the Herts/Middlesex One season

UCS Old Boys have more reason than most to look forward to the start of new Herts/Middlesex One season, with the club set to return to their Ranulf Road base this term.

Old Boys will be back at their traditional home this season after playing at nearby Lyndhurst Gardens while their Ranulf Road base was being redeveloped.

The development is the vision of University College School, who will use the facilities along with the Old Boys rugby club.

And UCS head coach Charlie Esdon believes returning to Ranulf Road has generated a real feel-good factor around the club ahead of the start of the new league season.

“It’s a hugely exciting time for the club as we await the finish of our brand new £10m state-of-the-art clubhouse and playing fields at Ranulf Road,” said Esdon.

“The fields have had £750k spent alone on the drainage and levelling, and the new clubhouse will include top quality facilities, including a bar overlooking the pitches, that will serve hot and cold food — for those that like to watch their rugby with a cold pint and a pie in hand!”

UCS will hope the return to Ranulf Road spurs the team on to improving on their 10th place finish in Herts/Middlesex One last season.

Old Boys have been hard at work throughout the summer in pre-season training, and Esdon revealed new ideas had been implemented this year in the hope of getting the team in a better place ahead of the start of the new season.

“We’re starting to see the benefits of some really intense sessions with plenty of cardio work taking place within an enjoyable, but challenging, game-based approach,” he added.

“This year we have introduced a touch tournament designed to challenge our players’ way of thinking, and to also pose problems that need solving in the moment.”

New players, though, are always welcome to join the club throughout the season, with UCS having three senior teams and a veterans side.

Training takes place at the club’s Ranulf Road base every Tuesday from 7-8.30pm and every Thursday from 7-8pm.

And anyone who does join UCS this season will be able to make the most of the multi-million pound redevelopment their Ranulf Road base has undergone in recent years.