Finishing bottom of the Championship table in 2020-21, Richmond’s director of rugby Steve Hill will be looking for more than one victory this season.

The biggest differences are heard in the bass. The new version is so much more precise and controlled in this region. On an initial listen it would be easy to conclude that the older model has more weight in this area, but given time it becomes clear that the S2 are cleaner, more insightful and have notably more punch. There is certainly depth amongst this group, which will make finding the best match-day 23 all the harder. But should the correct formula be found by director of rugby John Barnes, then Hartpury may well cause some upsets.We are pleased to confirm that 7️⃣ Academy players will link up with @HartpuryRFC for their 2021-22 @Champrugby campaign. Richmond will no doubt be competitive and the fact that they have had game time in recent months means they should not find themselves at the bottom of the table again. Some feel the RFU is trying to have its cake and eat it. There is unlikely to be any word before the end of February at the earliest, for example, as to how many sides will be promoted from the National Leagues this April. We do know the Championship will have 12 teams next season (this season’s bottom side will not be relegated) but, depending on whether Ealing Trailfinders or Doncaster Knights finish top and also satisfy the minimum standards criteria (another saga in itself) to go up, there is still no clarity over whether one or two sides will be promoted from National One. Or, even more pertinently, any firm guarantees about funding levels after 2024.

Bill Johnston joins the club on a full-time basis after being loaned to the London-based club from Ulster in 2021.Steve Boden and his side would have been disappointed to have not reached the play-off finals after a strong start last season, but they have recruited heavily from other Championship sides this summer. Placing fifth last season, Rowland Winter has kept his squad largely the same for the upcoming campaign. Scrum-half Joe Snow has been recruited on a full-time basis from Exeter Chiefs, while Sam Aspland-Robinson will also be staying at Butts Park, again as a loan player from Leicester Tigers, and Tom Griffiths has signed on loan from Dragons. With a number of senior players – Rob Kirby, Alex Bibic and Tom Pashley – retiring and George Oram moving to Doncaster Knights, the West Londoners announced the majority of their new arrivals in mid-August, as well as the appointment of Rob Powell as head coach.