Spartans Rugby Club will have the backing of the whole of Gloucestershire when they walk out onto the famous Twickenham turf for their National Junior Vase final against Goole on Saturday.

 The match kicks off at 11am and the Gloucester One champions are certainly not short of support from their many rugby friends from around the county.

 This is what they had to say ahead of the showpiece occasion.

 Russell Hillier, Stroud Rugby Club president

“It’s great for a club like Spartans to get the opportunity to play at Twickenham. It will be a day they will never forget and let’s hope they go on and win the trophy. They’ve got a great history and it will be a great double if they can win it after winning their league.” 

 Andy Deacon, Cirencester Rugby Club director of rugby

“They’ve been through some difficult times so it shows what can be achieved. It’s a competition that gives everyone the chance to get to Twickenham and it’s brilliant that Spartans are going there. It galvanises a club.”

 Paul Morris, Cinderford Rugby Club director of rugby

“It’s great to see a club from Gloucestershire earning the right to go and play at Twickenham. I’m particularly pleased for their head coach Ryan Barnett. I knew him when I was at Coney Hill and he’s got a good rugby brain. He deserves everything he gets.”

 Colin Henderson, Lydney Rugby Club committee member

“Everybody at Lydney Rugby Club is delighted to see Spartans at Twickenham. History shows that they’ve produced some very good players over the years and their success is great for them and great for the area.”

 Eddie Rooney, Coney Hill president

“I watched them in their semi-final win over Old Whitgiftians. They give everything as a team and they’ve got every chance. These sorts of occasions are brilliant for the clubs involved. Coney Hill have got a coach going down to Twickenham and I wish them the best of luck.”

 Dave Emery, Lydney 2nd XV coach

“When I was at Bream, we were in the same league as Spartans and they were always really hard games. It’s great that they are going to Twickenham and I couldn’t be more pleased for them.”

 Malcolm Kedward, Cheltenham North team manager and Cheltenham Combination chairman

“Fair play to them, it’s a great achievement. I along with everyone else in Gloucestershire will be hoping that they can win at Twickenham.” 

 Peter Broomfield, Dursley 1st XV manager

“We’ve played them a couple of times this season and they are a strong team. They are very powerful and they are very difficult to break down. They work very hard and they deserve their place at Twickenham.”

 Jack Preece, Old Centralians coach

“They typify everything that is good about rugby. They give everything no matter what competition they’re in. They are not one of those clubs which pull out of competitions. They’ve already won their league and now they’re at Twickenham. It just shows what can be done.”

 Shane Aldridge, head of representative rugby in Gloucestershire

“It’s a fantastic achievement. I watched their semi-final and it was close for a while before they pulled it out of the bag. They’ve enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past three years. They are a proper old school Gloucester club and I wish them all the best.”