Newly promoted Tewkesbury launch their Gloucestershire One campaign at Cirencester on Saturday with new skipper Matt Stone confident that they have what it takes to compete at the higher level.

Cirencester, who were playing in Western Counties North not so long ago, will be a big challenge on the opening day of the new campaign but Tewkesbury will go into the game with plenty of momentum after their dramatic end-of-season 33-7 win at main rivals Cheltenham Civil Service which secured the Gloucestershire Two North title.

“It is quite a big jump,” admitted Stone, who has taken over as captain from the now retired Mike Harper, “but I think we’ll hold our own.

“There are some strong teams in the league but I think we’re good enough to stay up. We’d love to win the league but realistically if we can get into mid-table that will be a good season.”

Tewkesbury have played at a higher level themselves in the past - they reached Gloucestershire Premier a few years ago – and have also enjoyed a couple of good runs in national cup competitions so they know what to expect over the coming weeks and months.

“Cirencester will be a stern test,” continued 35-year-old Stone, an outside centre who has been with the club since he was 22. “The speed of the game and the standard of rugby will be the biggest thing we have to deal with.

“A few of the clubs we played last season are proper social sides who just want to play rugby.”