By Alex Hoad

Gravesend Rugby Club’s new coach is confident his young side can establish themselves in their first season in the National League.

Former Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells coach Paul Hathaway has arrived as the club’s new lead coach and has already targeted a top-half finish in their first season in National League 3 London & South East after back-to-back promotions.

Hathaway – who has also coached Kent under-18s – is a Level 3 coach who works at the Judd School, Tonbridge.

The squad he inherited will be strengthened by the arrival of a New Zealand second row forward, who is playing Premier Division rugby in his home country, and two Army under-21 players who will be stationed near the town.

He said: "This is the third year of a five-year plan and after two promotions in successive years, things are ahead of schedule.

"We want to keep the momentum going and establish ourselves in the first season, then in the second look to consolidate in the table before maybe looking at promotion the following season."

Hathaway revealed that coaching a side who played against Gravesend last season had shown him how strong the squad was.

He said: "We have got a good, strong player-base here, a lot of good young players and with the couple of additions in pre-season, we’ll be even stronger.

"Having coached against Gravesend last year when I was at Tunbridge Wells, I’m well aware of their strengths."