Most of Hampshire’s rugby union clubs will be in league action tomorrow as the curtain is well and truly lifted on the grassroots season.

London 1 South sides kicked off their season last weekend with Tottonians winning at Brighton and Havant triumphant at newly-promoted London Cornish.

Totts are at home tomorrow and their task is no easier as they welcome Chichester, who were relegated from National 3 last term.

Tottonians’ head coach Gavin Hart has introduced new tactics but also faces a selection dilemma with several players unavailable.

Eastleigh deservedly step up a level tomorrow after knocking on the door of London 2 South-West for several seasons.

New captain Jack Berry will lead his side out on home turf against Effingham & Leatherhead, who finished third bottom in 2016/17 Eastleigh head coach Phil Osman takes his squad into the new era full of confidence, having lost just twice in the league last season.

The club has welcomed some faces to Bishopstoke Road and several 2nd XI players are now knocking on the first team door as colts step up to the seniors.

Osman said: “We had a whole bunch of colts come through who are certainly going to be second team level. The consequence of that is that there is a knock-on effect in terms of some of the seniors.

“Several of them who were playing mostly seconds last year are without doubt in the frame for the first team.”

Osman believes much of last season’s stamina stemmed from the side’s superior fitness. So it has been the same again this time around with early summer training and a fitness and bonding weekend with the Royal Artillery at Thorney Island.

He added: “Our first three games are winnable and if you can win three games back-to-back it gives you something for the whole club to get its teeth into and say ‘actually, we can cope at this level without too much trouble’.

“I’m convinced we ought to have no trouble staying up.”

Eastleigh face a couple of Hampshire clubs over the following weeks – Gosport & Fareham, who have just dropped down from London 1, and Winchester RFC. Those clubs clash tomorrow.