RUGBY UNION: Hawks target top six

9:01pm Thursday 4th September 2008

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For the first time since the onset of professional rugby union, Henley Hawks begin a season vying for the position of being Oxfordshire's leading club.

Their relegation from National 2, coupled with Chinnor's promotion mean Henley are no longer the county's undisputed top dogs.

Chinnor hold that accolade in alphabetical order before tomorrow's big kick off in National 3 South, but Hawks understandably have bigger plans than the men from Thame.

Henley, who are captained by lock/back row Matt Payne, are aiming for a top six place, while looking to develop their young squad, which has an average age of 24.

Head coach Jason Forster could do little to halt their slide when appointed towards the end of last season, and most of their biggest names have flown the nest.

But following some encouarging pre-season displays, there is a degree of optimism at Dry Leas.

But with some 21 new signings in their squad, it may take Henley some time to settle.

IN: Dan Askew (tight-head prop, Cambridge/Bury St. Edmunds), Neil Baggett (wing/full back, Wharfedale), Pete Davies (wing/full back, Oxford Harlequins), Alex Dupee (flanker, Henley Wanderers), Shaun English (lock, Aylesbury), Will Fulton (fly half, Harlequins RL Academy), Hugo Gentilli (prop, Henley Wanderers), Tom Hancock (scrum half, Henley juniors), Tom Haynes (wing/full back, Henley Wanderers), Jack Hennings (flanker, Oakmeadians), Glyn Hooson-Owen (prop, U.W.I.C), Henry Mace (hooker, Clifton), Hugo Milford-Scott (prop, U.W.I.C), Charlie Nixon (lock, Gordon League), Alex Penny (tight-head prop, Salisbury, Bath Academy), Sam Portland (wing, Chinnor), Jack Shaylor (utility back, Ilkley), Scott Simmons (fly half/centre, Melksham, Bath Academy), Ralph Smith (full back, Blaydon), Simon Tattersall (hooker, U.W.I.C), Tommy Turner (fly half, Rugby Lions).

OUT: Felise Ah-Ling (wing, New Zealand), Dinos Alexipoulos (hooker, Ealing), Dave Archer (No. 8, Cambridge), Luke Burns (centre, Newbury), Tom Burns (wing, released), Jaymes Chapman (centre, Maidenhead), James Farndon (fly half, Newbury (assistant coach), Callum Grant (scrum half, London Scottish), James Hadfield (prop, Rugby Lions), Rob Hurrell (lock, Cambridge), Tom King (flanker, Redingensians), Nathan Lambden (full back, Loughborough Students), Andy Le Chevalier (prop, Ealing), Tom Muggridge (hooker, Bracknell), Chris Simmons (wing/full back, Rosslyn Park), James Winterbottom (lock, Ealing), Liam Wordley (hooker, Blackheath).

ONE TO WATCH: Full back Ralph Smith.

LAST SEASON: 13th, National 2.

PREDICTION: Top six.