Nottingham’s Jay Ecclesfield and Levi Roper believe a collective mindset can push the Midlanders back into Elior Champ Rugby play-off contention after falling short last season.
The Archers finished ninth but troubled the lower play-off spots as the competition restructured, only to be beaten to the top six by the likes of Chinnor and Hartpury.
But after 12 wins and a number of tight losses, the players believe they have the tools to climb the table this time around.
Centre Levi Roper said: “We just narrowly missed out on the top six, a couple of games at the end of the season fell away, but I think that showed what we're capable of. Our defence last year was outstanding, always stepped up and hopefully it'll be the same this year.”
Lock Jay Ecclesfield said: “As a collective, we're really coming together so strong, so hopefully we can start putting a bit more on the other end of the scoreboard rather than having to rely on our defence like we did last year.
“I think our goal is still the same, it's how high can we push up that leaderboard, and I think we do our best every year with what we have to try and chase that and try and secure it as high as possible.”
The Bay remained a stronghold last season, as they pushed then-unbeaten Ealing Trailfinders in a 14-17 loss and overcame eventual champions Worcester Warriors 22-7.
After just one season in the new 14-team structure, the league is already grabbing attention with a new title sponsor and Hearst Networks (BLAZE) committing to show games free-to-air on Sundays to a wider audience.
Ecclesfield said: “I think it's really good, because it shows that most teams in the Champ can compete against each other, and on their right day they can win a game. Ealing won every single game in the year, and then unfortunately they lost to Worcester, but it shows that other teams in the league can compete against those top teams.
“With Blaze coming in this year, looking to broadcast a couple of games, and Clubber last year doing their best with the paid subscription stuff, I feel like that's only going to grow the game. It's only going to make it bigger and get more eyes watching, and that's inevitably what it comes down to, isn't it?
Roper agreed: “Ealing last year going undefeated in the regular season was obviously a huge feat but I feel like there's a lot of games in there that also could have gone either way. So I think the gap definitely is closing, and you can see it, especially in that sort of top six realm.
Everyone's beating everyone. No one in particular, barring Ealing, was necessarily rolling over teams a week in, week out. So it's exciting to know once you go into a game, that anything can happen, and that you can treat every game as a winnable game.
The Archers can boast of some big-name former players, such as Ollie Chessum and Josh Adams, while Canadian Shane O’Leary appeared at the 2019 World Cup. And Ecclesfield is backing his current teammates to impress this season.
Teams will also get the opportunity to feature on free-to-air TV and reach new audiences this campaign after a deal was reached with Hearst Networks (BLAZE) to show games on Sundays.
He said: “In a couple of games last year, we got into some gritty battles and hard fights, and unfortunately sort of just lost out, it's how we can go again and again and again, and really try and seal games off.
“Morgan Adderly-Jones and Matty Ward are two players to watch. They've both been training in our first hit out against Doncaster, both played very well, so I think they're two lads to watch.”
Played by professional and semi-professional players, Elior Champ Rugby provides a ‘Proving Ground’ for future stars. Watch every game live on Clubber TV and free-to-air on BLAZE on Sunday afternoons.
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