Spartans are heading into the new rugby season with plenty of optimism.

They’ve appointed a new player/coach, a new captain and there’s a renewed sense of belief at a club who will celebrate their centenary in three years’ time.

“It’s all very positive,” said chairman Neil Brinkworth, who first played for club 40-odd years ago as an 18-year-old. “Conn Mundie is our new player/coach while Seamus O’Connor has taken over as captain.”

Mundie is a student at Hartpury University and the club were put in touch with him by former Spartans and Gloucester back row Bobby Fowke.

“Conn can play anywhere in the backs, from fly-half to full-back,” continued Brinkworth. “I think he’ll probably play full-back.”

O’Connor, who like Mundie is in his early 20s, is a back row and has a long association with the club.

“Seamus came through the youth system, his dad Des played for the club,” added Brinkworth.

Mundie and O’Connor will be key figures as the club look to put last season’s disappointment behind them when they were forced to withdraw from Counties 2 Gloucestershire North midway through the campaign because of a lack of players.

That was a tough decision to make but it’s one that Brinkworth believes was absolutely right.

“We’ve been reinstated in the league in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North,” said Brinkworth. “The players who were injured last season are now fit and some of the younger players are ready to step up into adult rugby.”

So what is the aim for Spartans this season?

“Ultimately to be able to field a team for every game,” continued Brinkworth. “This season will be a re-set, we want to be competitive but it’s small steps.”

But while it may be small steps, Brinkworth is still allowing himself to think big as well.

“Ideally we’d like to start a 2^nd team this season,” he said. “If we can get sufficient numbers that would be excellent, maybe playing once a month.

“That would give everyone games and provide competition for the 1^st team players.”

Brinkworth is in his third season as chairman and he admits the past couple of years have been difficult.

“It’s been tough, but then being chairman at any club is tough,” he said.

“But at least now we can look forward with a bit more optimism.

“We’re a traditional rugby club in Gloucester who have been around for a long time and we want to maintain our place on the local rugby landscape.”

The club are running two youth teams this season – under-16s and under-11s – and the hope is that the junior section will be expanded.

The hope is, of course, that the juniors will feed into a thriving Spartans adult team in years to come and Brinkworth believes the signs are very encouraging.

“All the players have really bought in to what we are trying to achieve,” he said.

Spartans begin their league campaign at home to Matson 2nds on Saturday 7^th September.