ALL three Burnley Rugby Club squads have new captains for the 2016 season as they prepare to get the campaign underway.

The season is only three weeks away and the club have seen high numbers attending training on both Tuesday and Thursday at Holden Road at 7pm, new players however are always welcome.

Playing wise, as usual a few have left and a few have come in. This season sees a complete change with all three Burnley sides having a new captain - Tom Ives, Josh Brown and Rob Bythell.

Burnley’s coach Simon Finnan admitted it had been a busy summer at the club with plenty of new faces joining, as well as a few departures.

He said: “Last season’s captain Paul Mallaband has departed the club.

“Due to his new job he has relocated close to Altrincham Kersal and is going to play down there.

“Adam Lee who has come through the juniors at Burnley and played numerous senior seasons has also moved and is now closer to Skipton, we wish him well.

“However we will see him on the pitch earlier than we thought as we travel there on August 18 for a pre-season friendly.

“We have also lost three backs - Tom McGuiness, who is off to Australia in early September; Ali Marjot, who for last two seasons has been teaching locally and is moving down south; and Gerhard Botha, who is back in South Africa.

“A positive side has been the recruitment.

“Unfortunately Pendle have disbanded and, due to this, half-a-dozen players have joined along with another half-a-dozen new players turning up at pre-season who will strengthen all our three teams.

“Another playing positive has seen a couple of strong players return from injury and the competition now for every position in the firsts is high.

“It seems very positive and moving into this season the players would like to aim for promotion.

“The seconds will aim for a strong top-half position and, if the continued numbers continue at training, should push for a high end finish.

“With the influx of players the thirds should have high numbers and a happy successful season.

“Finally this is the 90th season for the club and we are hoping to all pull together on and off the pitch with all three teams hoping for a successful season.”