Milton Keynes Rugby Club is about to embark on a new season in the Southern Counties North.

Following a successful 2007-08 season the club held its trials match at Old Northamptonians on Tuesday.

The club will be running three senior teams this season, with the potential for a fourth side and just a few new members arriving at the club. There are also occasional games for the veterans for those over 35 but the club caters for all standards of rugby and all ages.

Mark Hopley, a regular Northampton Saints player, has continued to provide the coaching for the senior sides and he has been able to pass on his skills and knowledge to the training and there are high hopes for promotion in the new season.

Training takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7 until 8.30pm at Field Lane, Greenleys.

The minis and juniors meet on Sunday mornings from 10am and this section caters for all ages, both boys and girls.

Anyone interested in joining the club, either to play or to support the teams, should contact John on MK8 311771.

It is expected that the ground work for the new clubhouse at Monkston will start in September. The main pitches need levelling and work will concentrate on this to start with.

From December it is expected work will start on the clubhouse with completion expected by around June 2009.

The finance has been partly provided from the RFU, Sport England and Milton Keynes Council.

If all goes according to plan the club should start the season 2009/10 in their new clubhouse and hopefully in a higher league!