KENDAL RUFC named a squad this week to take them into the start of the new season, writes Richard Daniels.

The core of last year's successful First XV set-up remain but there are a handful of new faces including ex-Orrell prop/hooker Phil Learney.

Cumbrian-born Learney who lives in Penrith comes into the squad along with flanker Mike Burnett, from Aspatria, and David Preston, a hefty 6ft 5in 17.5 stone second-row from Penrith.

Workington Rugby League recruit Matthew Woodcock has arrived as one of the new backs and is joined by South African Chris Malherbe, who played Second XV rugby last year at the club.

There are places too for Duncan Rose, a New Zealand-born centre who was at the club a couple of seasons ago who is now a naturalised British citizen living in Kirkby Stephen.

Promising Rob Quarry and Alan Holmes who have come through Kendal's youth sides are also included.

Kendal coach Peter Kremer said: "After five weeks of intensive training we have named a squad for the pre-season games against Otley and Penrith and the first league game at Fylde.

"The squad will be reviewed on a monthly basis on the current performance of people involved, their ability to achieve fitness levels and the overall performance of the team, and it is not enshrined in stone.

"We still are one short of the 25-strong squad we wanted and three other people are still fighting for the extra backs place.

"But the feeling is that the time has now come to put some units and teams together and get down to the nitty gritty of some real match preparation."

"We are backing our judgement and the feeling is that those in the squad are the people with the right attitude, fitness and technique to go on and hold their places.

KENDAL squad: Forwards - Richard Harryman, Billy Coxon, Ian Thompson, Phil Learney, Ian Gowing, Alan Holmes, Mike Capstick, Keith Robinson, Rob Quarry, David Preston, Mark Bowman, Adrian Bateson, Mike Burnett and Colin Wolstenholme.

Backs - Casey Mee, Mark Airey, Mike Scott, Ian Voortman, Steve Healey, Duncan Rose, Chris Malherbe, Matthew Woodcock, Jason Balmer and Paul Dodds.