HENLEY Hawks are targeting promotion as they begin their National 2 South campaign at Hertford tomorrow.
Hawks have made 13 new signings and feel they have what it takes to return to level three of English rugby after a four-year absence.
New faces include former Oxford Harlequins duo Xavier Andre and Ryan Newman, while lock James Winterbottom, who played over 200 games for Henley, returns for a second spell.
The club, who already host Wasps’ A games, have strengthened their links with the Premiership side, whose apprencticeship programme is now partially based at Henley College.
IN: Xavier Andre (centre, Oxford Harlequins), Will Bigley (tight-head prop, Wasps Academy & North Shore, New Zealand), Tom Blackburn (hooker, back row, High Wycombe), Rupert Crossland (No 8, Shelford), Alec Hepburn (loose-head prop, Wasps, England under 18 & Henley Juniors), Idrusu Labri (wing, High Wycombe), Ed Keohane (fly half / centre, Maidenhead), Ryan Newman (flanker, Oxford Harlequins), Joe Southwell (scrum half / wing, Henley juniors), George Strang (centre / wing, Newbury), Dave Wells (back row, Newbury), James Winterbottom (lock, Ealing), Will Woodward (back row, Reading Abbey).
OUT: Adam Holloway (flanker, Canada), Tom Stradwick (No 8 / lock, Blackheath).
Fly half Tom Allen, last season’s leading try scorer with 17, captains Henley at Hertford, with Andre, Newman and Hepburn all getting starts.
Henley Hawks (v Hertford): Comben, Baggett, Andre, Wells, Haynes, Allen (capt), Molloy, Hepburn, Brennan, Penny, Evans, Winterbottom, Newman, Long, Crossland. Reps: Milford-Scott, Bigley, Clements, Dowling, Hancock.
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