Newark Rugby Club start pre-season friendly matches at home to Peterborough this weekend with new signings in their squad

Newark Rugby Club are gearing up for the new season by starting pre-season friendlies this Saturday, at home to Peterborough.

The match at Kelham Road (kick-off 3pm) will see a 25-30 man squad rotate in an effort to give every player an opportunity, including a number of new faces who have trained over the past few weeks.

Among the new names are two players from Kesteven in Sam Hawkins, a fly half or full-back, and centre Zac Draycott. Hykeham forward Jamie Robson has also joined the squad.

Newark, who start league fixture on 6 September at home to West Bridgford, also host Stamford in another pre-season match on August 30 at Kelham Road.

The squad this season will be led by centre Matt Walton, who has taken over from flanker Olly Dodders.

The club’s women’s squad also have a new captain in scrum-half. Ella Turlukowsky who has taken from Emilie Rathbone.

The squad are looking to build on last season’s successful campaign which brought promotion by winning 10 and drawing another in 14 matches.

The women’s squad have been helped in pre-season – which started a couple of weeks before the men – by help from players who all started out at Kelham Road.

England Sevens player Jess Weaver, who was a lead figure in helping Newark girls’ to success, returned to help out at a couple of sessions.

Also helping out have been the Olowofela twins - Ryan and Jordan - who are now playing at Doncaster in the Championship.