Last season may be one that lives long in the memory. However, it is now time for a new talented group of players to make their mark.

Club captain Matt Cook was elected by the club last season, taking over the role from the recently graduated Luke Bury.

The second-row provides an experienced head to guide the club this season, alongside vice-captain Josh Thorne.

Success was the feature for the whole club last season, with the BUCS Super Rugby side, all the way down to the Fresh 5s, enjoying hugely positive seasons.

For Cook and the rest of the EURFC committee, the aim for the 2022/23 season is yet more progress both on and off the field.

“I really want the club to focus on building a culture where all members feel valued. I want Topsham road to be full of clubmen supporting all teams on a Wednesday and Saturday,” he explained. “That support can be the difference in a match, you only have to look at the BUCS final last year to see that.”

Pre-season is a period where returning players get themselves up to speed and the new blood look to prove themselves early doors. For Cook, he has been thrilled with the efforts so far from the club, with a number of players really putting their hands up as ones for the future.

“I’m really excited for the club looking forward to this season. We have a lot of talented prospects. Looking at how the whole club have trained in pre-season, it’s clear just how much quality there is.”

Cook is now entering his third year in Exeter and feels fortunate to be in a position where he can “implement things that will hopefully be beneficial” to the group. As far as the second-row is concerned though, the standards will need to be set by himself and the rest of the committee.

“Ultimately, talk is cheap,” he explains. “I just want to set good standards myself and be the best player on the pitch that I can. If other players see me leading by example, then I feel that I have done my job.”

Reflecting on pre-season thus far, Cook feels that the culture he is hoping to see flourish, is already beginning to take shape.

“Since we’ve come back, the boys have been on fire. The beach sessions have been gruelling but everyone has supported each other through it.”

Time away from the training pitch is just as important and Cook feels that the recent paddle boarding session on the Exe Estuary was another important moment during the pre-season campaign.

“It was such great fun,” he smiled. “We’re really building something special here this season and days like that, alongside those 6am starts have been so good for team bonding. So far, everyone has been totally on fire.”