Paul Morris is enjoying this summer a lot more than he did the summer of 2016.

The Cinderford director of rugby had only taken over as the main man midway though the 2015/16 season and was unable to prevent the club from being relegated to National Two South.

“By mid-May last year I hadn’t got a single contracted player,” he said. “They were leaving in their droves either because they wanted to stay at National One level or simply because they wanted to leave the club.”

The contrast with this year is clear for all to see. By mid-May the club had 26 contracted players signed and were also reporting the capture of three new signings – centre Jack Hayes, from Rotherham, tighthead prop James Elliot, from Birmingham Moseley, and wing Kai Little, who has just finished his studies at Hartpury College.

Morris was also able to confirm that back row George Porter would captain the team in 2017/18.

“Last summer I was just signing people at random,” Morris said. “It didn’t matter if I had four scrum-halves and no second rows, I just had to sign some players.

“This year it’s been much more specific and I’ve been able to target players in positions that need strengthening.”

Not that Morris has been putting his feet up since the final whistle was blown on Cinderford’s season.

“I make at least one rugby related phone call every day,” he said. “I try to keep the weekends clear from rugby and I’m certainly enjoying having Tuesdays and Thursdays free now that there is no training.”

Morris will need to make the most of those free midweek evenings because the players report back for pre-season training soon enough on Tuesday 27th June.

His insistence on carrying out player negotiations face to face also adds to his workload.

“I never make an initial offer in writing,” he said. “I always wait until we’ve shaken hands on it before I put anything in writing.

“That’s the way my dad did things and my grandad. We always shook hands.

“I normally ask players to meet me halfway when we arrange a meeting and last summer I had meetings at Chepstow services, Michael Wood services near Bristol three times and Strensham services.

“This year it’s much calmer and I feel we’re driving our destiny now.

“We’ve still got a long way to go but I like the shape of the squad.”