WALLINGFORD have signed ten players ahead of the Southern Counties North season, which starts on Saturday.

And they have a new coaching team, with Ralph Smith assisted by Jermaine Webster and Jason Roberts.

Wallingford’s signings include Army scrum half Pete McKinlay and prop Ben McCaughlin, from Didcot, while full back Henry Wiltshire garduates from the colts.

Smith’s side, who open up at home to Aylesbury, are targeting a top-half finish after just avoiding relegation last season.

Smith said: “A new coaching set-up, relatively few players leaving or retiring, and a promising batch of colts stepping up, will hopefully make both senior sides much more competitive this season.”

PLAYERS IN: J Springer (centre, unattached), P McKinlay (scrum half, Army), D Sadler (full back, Cardiff University), B McCaughlin (prop, Didcot), M Metcalfe (flanker, unattached), T Paterson (No 8), C Murphy (lock), S Tokelove (centre), J Thurston (prop), H Wiltshire (full back, ex-Colts).

PLAYERS OUT: A Cambridge (retired), H Bateman (moving away).

Bicester and Alchester are away to Wootton Bassett and Thatcham respectively.

They can look forward to a derby at Oxford Road on Saturday, October 11.

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