LUDLOW RFC head coach Mikey Jones admits he will have to rein in his players’ enthusiasm when they play their first competitive game for 18 months on Saturday.

Ludlow begin the new Midlands One West campaign at home to Stratford-upon-Avon, bidding to improve on their seventh-placed finish in 2019-20 after last season’s total abandonment.

“We are trying to make sure the boys don’t go over the top as they haven’t been used to contact for so long – it’s just a case of preserving bodies and conditioning,” said Jones.

“You can be the fittest person about but that first 20 minutes of a game is horrible and leaves your lungs burning.

“We want to push on and be better than the last season – we want to aim for the top four. It’s an open league because nobody knows anybody now!”

Ludlow have not only maintained their entire squad from a year and a half ago, they have recruited eight more players to end the game adjournment’s stronger than when it began.

“It’s really pleasing, we’ve had the highest numbers at training I can remember, around the 40 mark and I thought ‘wow’,” added Jones.

“I genuinely thought it would drop off at some stage but it hasn’t and everyone is keen to get going.”