The new rugby season beckons and the challenges of National League 2 are just around the corner. Playing the likes of Birmingham Solihul who, just a couple of seasons ago, were knocking on the door of the Premiership is a mouth watering prospect.
Playing the games is one thing but getting there is something else! Last season the longest away fixture was to Leicester Lions - a mere 194.4 miles away, a round trip of 388.8 miles This year the numbers look quite different.
During the course of this league campaign players and fans could clock up a total of 7,114 miles on the road and spend almost 67 hours driving to and from fixtures. There are 3 mammoth journeys to Cornwall with the jaunt to and from Mounts Bay coming in at 994 miles and a bone wearying 18 and a quarter hours on the road. Redruth and Launceston are not too far behind.
The trip to near neighbours Blaydon on the 13th of September is the only relief at a mere 18 miles. Wharfdale at 106 miles and Waterloo are the only other fixtures that are less than 200 miles from Tynedale Park.
Enjoy the ride!