Luctonians have announced former Hartpury College, Gloucester and Birmingham & Solihull Bees player Alex Davidson as their new director of rugby.
Davidson, 29, re-joins the club where he began his career after serving eight seasons with the Bees, finishing as their most-capped player.
But the former Wales under-21 second row is not hanging up his boots just yet and is keen to help the Mortimer Park club establish themselves in National Two North.
Davidson, who first joined Luctonians as a 13-year-old, will feature as a player next season and is already busy assembling a squad ready for the challenge.
“I want to maximise the potential that is here to get a squad of possibly 40 players that are all capable of fitting into a first team environment,” he said.
“Then we can increase the strength across the second team, the Knights and the rest of the club. It’s about bringing the whole club on and hoping the cream comes to the top and are good enough to compete in National Two North.”
Davidson has named a strong coaching line-up to assist him in his new role. Viv Wooley, who has been such a big part of the club’s success over the past three years, will act as forwards coach assisted by Andy Douthwaite. Richard Henwood continues in charge of the backs with RFU community coach Aaron Jones, who will be in charge of phase play and defence.
In a huge coup for the club, former Luctonians, Harlequins, Leicester and Bath player Scott Bemand has also joined the coaching team in an advisory capacity.
Bemand, who ended his Premiership career due to injury in May, will offer vast experience which will undoubtedly prove to be of massive value to local players with ambition.
Mark Matthews, the ex-Bath second row, has also confirmed his desire to continue coaching at the club with specific responsibility for the Knights XV with Mal Williams.
Despite a distinguished career with the Bees and the possibility of a testimonial season, Davidson believes the time is right to move back to where it all started. He said: “I think it’s a good time to get back involved at this level. Due to the RFU’s actions in altering the financial and league structures, the focus has to be on becoming more community based. “The finances are tough and it’s not very appealing for someone coming to the end of their professional career.”
Davidson will take up a community role with Luctonians, promoting sport in local primary schools and spreading the Luctonians message.
And community is a vital part of that message according to Davidson, who wants the whole club to join the first team in their venture into the national leagues.
“That is how clubs survive and don’t survive,” he added. “If we bring the whole club along on that journey the worst case scenario is that we fail but at least we have kept the support and included the community.”
Player development will remain a key aspect of coaching and Davidson is adamant the club is well-placed to help promising individuals progress. He added: “If somebody shows some promise both Scott and myself have the contacts to push that individual’s career on.”
Preparations for the new season have seen players taking part in strength and conditioning sessions ahead of pre-season training which starts this week.