This Saturday sees the Men start their league campaign

Well it's been a busy off season since we last brought you a matchday squad! Welcome back to the action and indeed welcome to the 2024/25 season; the 138th season of the Dragon in Exile!
The off season has seen some excellent arrivals into the squad camp. As the London Welsh faithful will already know the following have joined to reinforce a squad with once again a 95% retention rate: Steven Shingler, our long term back coach joins having left his role as Captain of Championship table toppers Ealing Trailfinders. At 32 Shings has a hell of lot to offer and we are excited to see him finally in a London Welsh jersey.
Tommy Bell joins having spent a season in the Japanese Pro league, having departed from Benetton in the URC last year. The former London Irish, Leicester and Wasps star is raring to go taking on the dual role of player coach; at 31 there is a lot to come from Belly on the pitch!
We also welcome Garin Lloyd signed from Championship side and neighbours London Scottish. Garin is a talented hooker capped at Wales u20 level and having a number of appearances for the Ospreys back home.
We welcome Harri Lang, a prolific winger at national 1 and national 2 with Esher and formerly of Newport in the Welsh Premiership.
Will Mckenna has bolstered the front row, signed from Hertford the BIG tighthead has impressed in pre season.
Gruff Williams returns home after 4 years at Swansea University where he played BUCS premiership rugby and also turned out for our friends at Neath RFC in the Welsh premiership.
Jordan Dyer arrives from Rotchford Hundred, a quality hooker who will make selection tough for the coaching team throughout the season. George West joins from Clifton to bolster the back row; again both players with national league 2 experience.
Sam Roberts has signed having spent a number of years playing National 2 with Barnstaple. A very talented winger who also captained the Devonshire side.
Alex Sparkes joins at 9 having played 1st and 2nd team at high flying Nat 1 side RAMS for the last few seasons.
Last and certainly not least! We welcome Byron Leach who signs from Shute Shield side Manly Marlins in Australia. Byron lands in the UK having just completed his 100th cap for the Championship equivalent side in Sydney; he was also 1st XV Captain over the past few seasons. Byron joins his fellow Marlins export Tom Douglas and brings exceptional quality to the 2nd row or backrow.
It has also been pleasing to.season the return of Jack Anderson to action, as well as Tom Ireland Life. Both players have significant pedigree and having played in the Welsh Premeirship are almost like two new signings. Jack having not played since an horrific injury in the 22/23 season and having his knees rebuilt. Tom missing most of last season with injury.
Needless to say the squad is looking incredibly strong!
Right - now we turn the Preview of this weekends league opener.
Little is known of our opposition summer recruitment. In the two pre season hit outs that we have details of our hosts were beaten 50-24 to Nat 2 Guernsey and 28-14 at home to fellow Nat 2 side Sevenoaks.
Bracknell do have a new DoR for the 24/25 season in the form of Elliot Lewis.
Welsh have played Bracknell home and away in the last 2 seasons since re-locking horns following the Exiles demotion and project reset. Welsh have won all 4 games with last terms results being 24-17 at ODP in Round 5 and a more convincing 45-12 win on the road in January of this year.
In fact Bracknell have not beaten London Welsh in the 7 games played in their history; 6 competitive and one friendly (the latter coming pre season of 20/21 season. The 2 former league games coming in 2001 in the Old National League 1.
Bracknell ended last season comfortably in 5th place on 71 points and with 13 wins from 22.
Welsh finished in 3rd on 85 points and were just pipped to second by Camberley. It was a frustrating season for many Exiles supporters last season who felt that we shouldnhave gained promotion; that aside signficant progress was made on and off the field and promotion had not been the target.
Welsh finished last seasons with 5 wins on the bounce and 8 from their last 9; losing narrowly to Havant away from home.
Welsh finished the league with the best away record and the most points scored; averaging 38 points per game.
Welsh stretched the squad during pre season, confident of their strength in depth heading into the season. Trips to two national two sides in the form of mid table Old Albanians and newly promoted Oxford Quins, brought 2 sizable wins.
Probably most pleasingly, Welsh have completed pre season with minimal injuries; something that has hampered the start to the previous 2 seasons.
Hywel Williams at 9 broke.his hand against OAs and will sit out the nwxt 5 weeks. New signing Harri Lang tweeked an hamstring against Quins and will be rested for Round 1. Stalwart backrow veteran Tom Williams has not featured in pre season due to an ongoing back issue. There will be a late fitness test on Aussie 2nd row Tom Douglas who injured his shoulder against Quins; he may be rested with a long season ahead. Centre Ewan Gully should recover I time after pulling up in the warm up.to the OAs game.
That aside the squad has a full bill of health! With exceptional quality in depth in across the park.
Director of Rugby Cai Griffiths looked forward to Round 1:
' We have been building for the last 2 seasons and allowing project reset to catch up with itself having had 4 quick Succession promotions. We have retained our talented squad and added some brilliant players in key areas. I am looking to the coming season and to watching the boys perform. They have been well drilled and are at peak fitness levels, thanks to Head of S&C Will Taylor. I am certainly looking forward to have Shings (Steve Shingler) and Tommy (Tommy Bell) on the field and I am looking forward to seeing what new Captain Matt Hodgson will bring in that role. Bracknell are a good side and are always tough opposition, more of our battles in the last 2 years have been down to wire and I expect no less this weekend.'
Kick is at 3pm this weekend at Lily Hill Park, Bracknell RFC. Details of the supporters club transport can be found directly via the supporters club. We look forward to seeing you all at Bracknell as we kick off another cracking season!
The Druids 2nd XV also kick off the season this weekend with a visit to Belsize Park II, played on the Pavilion at Regents Park - KO also 3pm. Andy Evans' side are also unbeaten in pre season having finished at the top of Middlesex Prem last season losing only 1 game. A switch in leagues brings the Surrey Premiership this season and what is hoped to be a sterner test, with many 1st and 2nd XV double header in store.
Here is to a brilliant 138th season at Old Deer Park - Yma O Hyd !
#COYW