These are happy days for Smiths Rugby.

They’re flying high in Gloucester Two, they’re enjoying playing at the Prince of Wales Stadium and they’re attracting new players to the club.

Six wins out of six in the league tells its own story and only Ross’ rampaging start is keeping them off top spot in the division.

Bob Ellis has been the club’s president for the past 20 years and is delighted with what he’s been seeing.

“The 1st XV are a very tight-knit unit,” he said. “They’ve been improving steadily over the past couple of years under coaches Chris Raymond, Rob Nock and Chris Long.

“And we’ve got an inspirational captain in Ben Hawker. He leads from the front, he’s authoritative, intelligent and very fast.

“He keeps control of the players and is not one of those who gets white line fever when there’s a chance to kick at goal.”

Although there are a number of new faces at the club – prop Chris Blake and centre Zac Francis to name just two – Smiths are much the same as last season in terms of their core personnel.

They enjoyed a good campaign last time out as well although they just missed out on second spot and with it promotion by the smallest of margins.

And although the club would love to play in Gloucester One in 2018/19 the focus is very much on taking each game as it comes.

It’s a philosophy that has been working pretty well so far and they have just beaten near neighbours Cheltenham Civil Service 85-7.

They’ve got games against Minchinhampton and Bishopston coming up before they travel to Ross on Saturday 25th November, and the winners of that game will surely go into Christmas as number one in the chart.

It’s not only the 1st XV who are flying, the club as a whole are doing rather well and are fielding a 2nd XV under the captaincy of Adam Naylor every week. The club are also getting a fledgling vets/3rds side out onto the pitch with the aim of playing two games a month.

That team are being organised by Alex Ayres and Ayres, like Ellis, is Smiths through and through, with both enjoying long associations with the club.

Much of that time was spent playing in Bishop’s Cleeve, of course, but Ellis is loving life at the Prince of Wales Stadium since their move there two-and-a-half years ago.

“We’re very happy at the stadium,” said Ellis. “It’s a magnificent amphitheatre and has improved beyond all measure. Twenty-five years ago the pitches were very sandy but these days the grass is lush and very well maintained.

“The facilities are good, there’s good safe parking and we’re only just round the corner from Pittville Park. We’re all happy.”

They certainly are, and quite a few of the names from yesteryear have been out and about to enjoy the resurgence of a club that were formed in 1952.

“We’ve got three generations of people coming to watch us now,” said Ellis. “People in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

“Ken Jones is over 80 and he still comes and so does Billy Nield who was the founder member of the club. It’s a big advantage for us old boys because it’s so comfortable to watch at our new home.”

On and off the pitch these are indeed happy days for Smiths Rugby.