Ambition and Momentum: Bournemouth Rugby’s Plan to Reach the Premiership

Bournemouth suffered relegation to the 6th tier of the Rugby pyramid last campaign yet new owners believe that the club should be competing at a much higher level.

Since their arrival, Bournemouth have been on a rampant run of form.

On a 12-game winning run and sitting 2nd in the league, fans believe that the club is firmly in a title race.

The 78-0 demolishing of Newbury showcased their ruthless and confidence, and there's no team in the Regional 2 South Central league in better form than Bournemouth at this minute.

One of the three co-owners, Richard Carr, explains his decisions on buying the club, and his plans for the future.

"This time last year they were calling for money from various people because I put money into the club over, I don't know, the last seven, eight years.

"Myself and two others of the sort of people that have got, one of them's got children there and the other one's had children there. So we bought the club and instantly treated it like a commercial business."

One new player that has made an instant impression is Veteran Greg Tonks.

Captain Grant Hancox has been full of praise when discussing the effect Tonks has had on the squad inn such a short time.

"I think that the great thing with Greg is he's hugely relatable in terms of he's so current. He's not a has-been.

" He's still been in and around rugby throughout the National Leagues over the last few years, and only retired from professional rugby a few of years ago.

"He's obviously got that massive amount of experience, and yeah, he's been a brilliant character and a brilliant person to have around the group with some really insightful elements for the backs.

"I'd suggest more the back three, that full-back position where yes, he is a utility back himself, but he's had some real influential experiences throughout his career that he's imparting on some young lads who have years and years of rugby ahead of them.

"So he's been a fantastic addition. He comes with no ego. He's an open book and a really approachable guy, which is fantastic to have around the group."

A big driving factor in Carr's decision to gain ownership of the club was how families would be impacted by the club going bankrupt.

"When the club was running out of money this time last year, you go up there on a Sunday, there's 350 children up there. It would have been a travesty if the club had run into financial trouble.

"My kids are now both a part of Bournemouth Rugby and it's important that these community facilities remain open for everyone to enjoy."

The youth academy has also been a huge priority for the new owners coming up, hoping to set up a solid foundation for the future.

Carr said: "The whole club is a pyramid that starts from the four-to-five year olds to the first team.

"My son is in the U12s and there's 23 boys in that age group, which is fantastic!

"There's a fantastic feeling around the club right now and I can't wait to build on what we've currently got."

As for the men's first team, the winning run has strengthened the belief that Bournemouth can be regain promotion at the first time of asking.

But in the long term, Carr has envisioned a timeframe in which Bournemouth Rugby can clime the pyramid and enter the upper echelons of British league rugby.

"In eight to ten years, we want to be in the Premiership.

"We understand the challenges that await us, and how hard it is to consistently progress through the leagues but we have a firm belief that Bournemouth can become the super club across Dorset and Hampshire."

With a tough match against fellow high-flyers Winchester approaching, a match that could define the remainder of the season, everyone at Bournemouth is excited to see what's in store for the next few years.