Will Croker says the opening month of Bournemouth’s new National Two South campaign will act as a good barometer for the whole season.
The South West Premier champions will begin the new term in Level Four of English rugby with a trip to the side who finished fifth last year - Taunton Titans.
The first visitors to Chapel Gate will be fellow south coast team Worthing, who ended the campaign last year in ninth, and Lions’ Director Of Rugby Croker admits it is a tough start.
He said: “We have been handed a tough start at the beginning of our new National Two South campaign by being drawn against well-established sides in the division.
“We start with Taunton away, followed by Worthing at home, Henley away and then Tonbridge Juddians at home.
“It is a month which sees us play three of last season’s top five teams and it is going to be a really good barometer for us to see where we are in the league.”
Taunton finished fifth last season but cracked the 100-point mark following 19 wins and 11 defeats from their 30 matches.
However, located just 70 miles away in Somerset, it is the second closest trip behind Old Reds and Croker says they will travel there without any fear.
He added: “We have been to Taunton - certainly the Seconds have played there before so a number of the guys will have played there before - so I don’t think it needs to hold any fears for us and we can be confident with the away form we have had that we can carry that on.
“The blessing is that it is not a huge commute because Taunton is only a couple of hours away so it is not going to be something where we are going to have to be staying overnight or getting up ridiculously early to get there so it is something which is all under our control.
“We know they have got a number of decent players in their squad like Matt Jess - who they signed from Newton Abbot last year.
“They have also got a very good number eight and a very good outside centre so we are looking forward to seeing how we pit ourselves against them.”

Bournemouth Rugby full 2019/20 National 2 South season fixtures are as follows;

Saturday 7th September - Taunton Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 14th September - Bournemouth Vs Worthing

Saturday 21st September - Henley Hawks Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 28th September - Tonbridge Juddians

Saturday 5th October - Old Albanian Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 12th October - Bournemouth Vs Westcliff

Saturday 19th October - Clifton Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 26th October - Bournemouth Vs Esher

Saturday 2nd November - Barnes Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 9th November - Bournemouth Vs Dings Crusaders

Saturday 16th November - Bury St Edmonds Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 23rd November - Bournemouth Vs Leicester Lions

Saturday 30th November - Sutton and Epsom Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 7th December - Bournemouth Vs Old Redcliffians

Saturday 14th December - Redruth Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 21st December - Worthing Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 4th January - Bournemouth Vs Henley Hawks

Saturday 11th January - Tonbridge Juddians Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 18th January - Bournemouth Vs Old Albanian

Saturday 25th January - Westcliff Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 1st February - Bournemouth Vs Clifton

Saturday 8th February - Esher Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 15th February - Bournemouth Vs Barnes

Saturday 29th February - Dings Crusaders Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 7th March - Bournemouth Vs Bury St Edmonds

Saturday 21st March - Leicester Lions Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 28th March - Bournemouth Vs Sutton and Epsom

Saturday 4th April - Old Redcliffians Vs Bournemouth

Saturday 18th April - Bournemouth Vs Redruth

Saturday 25th April - Bournemouth Vs Taunton