WESTCLIFF’S new director of rugby Nick Sigwart is hoping for a memorable start to the National Three London & SE season.

Westcliff have the Rugby World Cup at the Gables base tomorrow.

And Sigwart is hoping to add to the occasion by securing victory against East Grinstead.

“With our opponents bringing both their first and second teams, along with the World Cup arriving at Westcliff it promises to be a busy first day of the season and hopefully it can be a successful one too,” said Sigwart.

“We’re looking forward to getting underway as well but I think the league is stronger than last season.

“The teams who have come down will naturally be looking to bounce back while that have come up have been knocking on the door of this league for some time and will have something to prove.

“We know there will be no easy games and indeed we have East Grinstead up first who are one of the strongest teams in the league. “

However, Westcliff ended last season in fine fashion and avoided relegation on the final day with a narrow victory against high-flying Barnes.

And Sigwart now wants to carry on from where the side left off.

“We will be looking to build upon last season, especially the last few games where we showed the kind of rugby we are capable of playing,” said Sigwart.

“We have won both of our pre-season games and although not too much can be read into these we have been pleased with how the squad has performed.”

Westcliff have also been boosted by the arrival of head coach Chris Waring and coach Matt Stockdale.

Openside flanker Jeff Meredith has also been added to the squad but Westcliff will be missing back row James Webster who broke his leg in a pre-season friendly against Amersham & Chiltern.