DAVID Dunn believes every rugby player in the region will be “knocking on our door” after Lions’ promotion to National League Division Two.
Dunn on Saturday watched his side bring down the curtain on their record-breaking National Three title triumph with a thumping win at Oxford Harlequins.
And the club’s director of rugby could now have the pick of the talent throughout the south west, with Taunton the nearest club to rival Lions’ lofty status.
Dunn told the Echo: “We have one or two tricks up our sleeve and we are already talking to one or two people about joining us next season.
“We are the biggest club in the region now and I am so proud of everything the players have achieved.
“They have been fantastic and it has been a tremendous journey.
“But anyone with aspirations to play National League rugby should now be coming to us and they will be very welcome to do so.
“We will need a bigger squad next season because there are more games and squad rotation will be really important.”
Despite conceding an early try at North Hinksey, Lions cruised to victory on Saturday having already secured the title the previous weekend.
Tries from Jack Hennings (2), Karim Lynch (2), Dan Pollard, Dan Connolly, Dan Cawley, Gavin Hart and Tom Westlake saw Dunn’s men register a 57-5 win in Oxfordshire, with Pollard kicking six conversions.
Dunn added: “We were a bit too relaxed and they got on top from the word go, scoring a try in the corner.
“But that woke us up and, once we got into our stride, there was no stopping us again.
“There were too many holes and we had too much firepower.
“We have won the league with a points difference of more than plus-1,000, which, over the course of the season, means we were around 40 points better than the opposition every week.
“It is quite clear we are ready to move up to the next level. We can’t wait.”
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