ROCHFORD Hundred Rugby Club will be aiming to muscle their way towards the top of the London & SE Premier Division standings next season.

Rochford - who have started their pre-season training at the Stack House Gym in Rayleigh - have won back to back promotions without losing a single game.

And prop forward Lewis Brunger is determined to keep the lengthy unbeaten run going.

“We had a good season last year and we’ve recruited well since so we’re going for more success next season,” said Brunger.

“If everyone has been training the way they say they have we should be flying through pre-season and then hopefully we can take that into the season too.

“We’re all looking forward to it and it’s good to be back at it.

“If you go into pre-season having done nothing in the off season then you will get shown up by the sides who have.

“You will struggle in the later moments of the game and suffer a lot more pain in pre-season too.

“But if you keep yourself ticking over you’ll get more from pre-season and that’s what we’re aiming for.

“It makes it’s easier and, after a two or three break, you’re back at it.

“We will be coming down to the Stack House gym which will help massively and it’s a good facility.

“We’ve done our testing here and hopefully we can get more of the boys down throughout the season because it definitely makes a difference.”

Joining Brunger in Rochford’s powerful pack next season will be number eight Chris Shields.

And he is also keen to build on the success of the previous campaign.

“It was my first season with the club and it went really well,” said Shields.

“Hopefully we can do just as well next season.

“I’ve played at this level a couple of years ago and it was alright.

“ It will be a lot better standard than last year but it’s good to have that challenge and we’re looking forward to it.

“Doing this work at the gym will help us too.

“I’ve been coming down here for about three years now. It’s a really nice gym and it will help us massively.”

The work will be overseen by Rochford’s strength and conditioning coach Mark Williams and he also feels it will be of great benefit to the squad.

“I was coming here for my own personal use and saw the space and equipment I thought we could utilise,” said Williams.

“It provides a variety of training and resources which will benefit the team.

“It’s been invaluable really and provides them with everything they need to prepare for the season.

“It will help with a rehab perspective as well.”

And the Stack House Gym’s co-owner Rainard Bhiroo-Stocks is thrilled to be helping Rochford.

“It’s great to have an ambitious and successful club like Rochford here,” he added.