HARTPURY are targeting another push for the play-offs as they prepare to begin their new Elior Champ Rugby campaign.

The Gloucestershire side finished sixth last season to qualify for the inaugural second-tier play-offs, where their campaign ended with a narrow 28-25 defeat against Coventry.

Hartpury achieved that despite operating with one of the smaller budgets in the division, with captain Will Crane believing the culture within the squad can again help them compete.

Crane said: “There’s no tall poppy syndrome. No one is bigger than the team. No matter what you do or where you’ve been, you're at Hartpury, and we’re all waking up at 6.30 in the morning, training at 7am.

“It humbles you in a way. Everyone buys into it, and it keeps everyone accountable, and then that transfers on and off the pitch.”

The 32-year-old spent time with Premiership neighbours Gloucester last season during an injury crisis at hooker and said he had brought lessons from the experience back to Hartpury.

He said learning how top-flight professionals trained and recovered had provided ideas which could be introduced into Hartpury's environment.

The club's partnership with Gloucester will again be important this season, with young players expected to gain senior experience in the Championship.

Back row Jack Davies highlighted number eight Tom Watts and loosehead Harrison Bellamy as two players who could impress during the campaign.

Davies believes Hartpury's comparatively limited resources can work in their favour by creating a close-knit squad.

He said: “You get a lot of boys playing because they love the club, because they love the game of rugby.

“It’s about the environment, the group and having the ability to work alongside it as well.

“I think that really fosters a tight-knit culture, and that got us over the line in quite a few games last year.”