DROITWICH have cut short their players' summer holiday in order to give themselves a head start for next season's Midlands Four West (South) campaign.

Director of Rugby Julian Bailey ordered his troops back for pre-season training early following last season's relegation from Midlands Three West (South), which saw the team win just three matches.

The squad has already been back for a fortnight and most teams will not be working up a sweat until the start of July.

Bailey said up to 40 players had attended the successful sessions, which are purely devoted to fitness work.

He said: "What we are trying to do is plan for what we thought was a weakness of ours last season and that was fitness. We want to get a better foundation for when we start rugby training. The last quarter of the games let us down and if we had been 15 to 20 per cent fitter we might have won more games."

Droitwich chairman Robert Bray added: "We are determined to hit the ground running in terms of fitness."

Training sessions take place at the club's Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground from 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anyone interested in joining the playing side can turn up.

The club is also looking for a coach and anyone interested is welcome to contact them.

n Kidderminster Carolians are looking forward to the new season following the arrival of a new coach.

Club coach Andy Stooksbury will be assisted by new forwards coach Mabon Jones, formerly with Bath and Stourbridge. Jones takes up his duties on Thursday, June 30.

The pair will be helped by Ben Turner, who has been proposed as club captain for the coming campaign.

Pre-season training starts on June 30 at 7pm.

Meanwhile, current and prospective players are invited to a barbecue at the club on Friday, July 1, from 6.30pm.