IT’S been a tough week at Cirencester RFC. On Friday there was barely room for a church mouse in St John the Baptist as the town remembered one of its own.

And though former Ciren RFC player Ashley Scrivens, who has died aged just 24, will never be forgotten, the devastated club will now try to turn its mind to the opening of the rugby season on Saturday when they travel to St Mary’s Old Boys.

They will not want to forget, nor will that be easy in this tight-knit community club as the team is full of Ashley’s friends. Team captain Alex Hammond, 26, for example, is the partner of Ashley's sister Chloe-Ann.

"It has been very tough and I have only just gone back to work," admitted Hammond.

"I've been good mates with Ash since I was 13 and we lived together for the last four years. So his problems weren't just close to home – they were home.

"But I am very excited about the new season. We have a new coach, a new squad and a different structure plus having gone down a league we don't really know what to expect.

"But we have had a team meeting and our focus is definitely on winning the title."

Head coach Kevin Powderly who replaced Dean Hammett in the close season, said: “It’s a tragic thing and it is going to be difficult for all Ashley's friends in the side.

“I have known Nigel Scrivens for 30 years but I did not really know his son so it would be wrong of me to try and use the tragedy as some sort of motivational spur.

“But I am hoping we will all pull together to make this season a special one for him.”

Powderly has assembled a powerful squad as Cirencester regroup after relegation from the Western Counties North.

And the coach echoes his captain's words that they plan their stay in the Gloucester Premier to be a short one.

“Our ambition is to bounce straight back up,” said Powderly. “I can see three or four teams being involved at the top and we want to be winning promotion as we need to be playing at a higher level."

Powderly, whose new-look side won all three of their prep games, singles out Will Hunt as a potential key player, realising full well that they probably have the former England U16s schools tight head prop and Gloucester A squad member on only a temporary basis.

“Will has been outstanding for us in pre-season,” said Powderly. “He has had his problems not least a virus which kept him out for a full season but he’s a local lad who is really keen and enjoying his rugby.

“I have no doubt we are just looking after him until he moves back up to a higher level.

“In the front row we have brought in Dave Woodcock who played for Old Pats last season and Rosslyn Park and Esher before that. He is a top quality forward.”

Powderly is also full of praise for his assistant Adam Seagar, a former Ciren player who is back after spells with the likes of Stroud and Old Pats.

“Adam will be our No.10 and he has made a huge difference to training sessions. He gives things such a lift.

“He knows a lot for a young coach and he has the ability to run the show on the field and influence any changes I may want to make.”

Powderly, who has coached at previous clubs like London Scottish, Cheltenham North and Taunton, has also been reunited with one of his former protégés, Malcolm ‘Molly’ Bennett .

“Molly got in touch as soon as he knew I had taken up this post,” said Kevin. “I coached him 15 years ago in the Cheltenham side which won the league and the county cup.

“Molly has been playing at a good level with Dings Crusaders’ second XV for the last six or seven years and will be a very good utility player, while Dave Evans is back again after his injury and surgery.”

Another good signing is Richie Lewis, formerly club captain at Fairford.

“Richie has left Coln House School in Fairford to take up his first headmastership at the Peak Academy in Dursley,” said Powderly.

“He has played at a decent standard in Wales and is a tremendously fit lad.”

James Fisher has returned to the fold after his brief flirtation with rugby league at the University of Gloucester All Golds side and has been made club captain.

James’ still injury-sidelined brother Luke is first team manager.

“James is a really talented player and will be very influential for us and score plenty of tries,” said the head coach.

“There are some great young lads in the Colts too and we are going to give 18-year-old Luke Newman a start at full back.

“He’s 6ft 3in, athletic and has lots of pace.”

The club also has a new scrum half in Luke Armitage.

“Luke has shone in training and he and Adam are already developing an understanding.”

But this being amateur rugby – and the time of year when love is often in the air – the partnership has been broken before it starts. “Adam and Dave Woodcock have a wedding to go to on the opening day,” said Powderly.

“But despite their absence it is vital we get off to a good start. I have been very pleased with how the lads have taken on the information I want to get over so far – and we can develop our tactics more later on in the season."

Hammond added: We have a bigger squad this season and it is an area we have struggled with in the past. But we appear to have real strength in depth this time."

He's also hoping the Scrivens factor will influence club stalwart and scrum half Gareth Parry to reconsider his decision to retire.

"Gareth plays both rugby and golf for the Army and I know he wants to focus on his golf," said Alex. "But Ashley is godfather to his little girl and with Luke (Armitage) going off for a ski season at Christmas I keep badgering 'Pars' to change his mind and I think he will do it for Ashley."

Cirencester will travel to meet Cheltenham Saracens in the second round of the County Cup next month having been given a bye in the first round.