TENBURY Rugby Club will be “making history” when they visit Bromyard in Saturday’s curtain-raiser but their boss admits they are venturing into the unknown this season.

The Palmers Meadow men begin their first-ever season at Midlands Three level with a trip to near neighbours Bromyard.

And while that’s not an unfamiliar challenge, much of the campaign will be after their 2019/20 promotion was followed by an 18-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Director of rugby Andy Black said: “It’s new territory for us and it will be new territory for some of the other clubs coming to Palmers Meadow.

“This is the highest Tenbury has ever been – the players will be making history for the club, which is important, and we need to capitalize on that, galvanize as a squad and play to our best potential.

“It will be a challenge for everyone, getting back into the game. It will be an interesting season – we have no idea how it’s going to go on Saturday! It’s like starting from fresh.

“We were on the crest of a wave when we got promoted but that was 18 months ago and that wave has broken – we have to start again, regroup as a squad and take on this next challenge.”

Black admits that survival at the higher level is the club’s ambition for the upcoming campaign.

He added: “The goal is to stay up but the first priority is to play well and prove to ourselves that we can deliver decent rugby – but it’s going to take a while because of this gap year.

“With all of the hard work that has gone in to get us where we are, now we have to take the opportunity to prove ourselves as a club but also as individuals.”

Clee Hill, also promoted, begin their campaign at home to Shrewsbury in Midlands Three West North, while Bishops Castle host St Leonards in Midlands Five West North.

Ludlow visit Midlands One West bottom side Wolverhampton hoping to build on two wins from their opening three matches, having won 19-12 at home to Whitchurch last weekend.