MATT Goode admits Banbury will be targeting the league title next season – but has warned his squad they face a tough challenge ahead.

Bulls are back in training and have bolstered their side with six new players ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

Banbury head into their third year in the sixth tier of English rugby on the back of an impressive campaign.

Goode’s side fell just short of promotion from South West 1 East, losing the play-off to Exeter University.

And the head coach recognises Bulls must strive for improvement.

He said: “We’ve spoken about it as a coaching group.

“We’ll be silly not to try to win the league.

“It scares me saying that, but we’ve got the squad including the boys coming in to really challenge.

“It’s going to be a tougher league, but the boys have performed really well at this level.

“The only way to improve on last season is promotion, so that has to be the target.”

Banbury signed six players last week in an attempt to strengthen an already competitive squad.

Forwards George Bentley, Ben Dickson and Ed Berridge, as well as backs Saope Soko, Josh Harris and Justin Parker, have all joined.

And Goode believes what happens in the weeks leading up to their first league fixture at Oxfordshire counterparts Witney on September 1 is vital.

He said: “Pre-season is more to help the new guys gel and maybe a few positional changes for the boys and start developing those partnerships.

“It can be funny with availability and unavailability.

“Some opponents can be really up for it and some not.

“We could win all our pre-season games and start the league poorly.

“The performances will be the most important thing and how they look on the training pitch. “

Banbury begin pre-season with a home fixture against Towcester on August 9, before away trips to Bedford Athletic and Newbold on August 18 and 25 respectively.