The atmosphere is fantastic when you go there and they’re a very organised team – if their form mid-season had been a little better, they’d be competing right at the top.

But they’ve hit their stride now, and this is a massive challenge today.

For us, the recent string of losses has been painful, but it shows how if you lose a few key players, it becomes very difficult to win – and that’s what makes National One the best rugby union league in the world.

It’s just tremendously competitive, has delivered great theatre for all the years we’ve been in it and it’s a jewel in the crown for the RFU -it’s a fantastic product full of very good clubs and I therefore hope anyone from the RFU’s competition committees who is watching how great it is doesn’t try to change it. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

We are delighted to have Max Hayman back as skipper today and I remember when Max was given the Berkshire Under 20s captaincy – he got a knee injury against Gloucestershire, then we went to Cornwall and despite not playing, he came down to watch.

I asked him about captaincy, and he said it was completely new to him, but every now and then, somebody comes along who is a natural leader.

The best metaphor for leadership comes from the Bible, when Jesus washes his disciples feet.

Max’s first concern is other people, and bearing in mind he’s also a first-class player, that’s what makes him a fantastic captain – we’ve been very fortunate to have a top young man like him come along after Robbie did such a good job for such a long time. It augurs well for the future.

Indeed, it was Max who rallied the Senior Squad to come down and help with the Minis the day after the Bishop’s Stortford defeat.

The players were gutted because they knew they hadn’t delivered on the pitch and it was a major blow to any chance of promotion, but the fact they turned up the next day, ran around with the kids and made sure they had a good experience, was tremendous and a great credit to the squad.

They’re not just outstanding rugby players, but also wonderful human beings who we should be very proud of.

It is also excellent to have Macbeth sponsoring today’s game.

We could not do what we do with the community without our sponsors. We have nearly 550 kids running around on a Sunday, we go into the schools, work with the University, the Academy providing a pathway for good players – we just couldn’t do it without companies like Macbeth.

It’s great they get involved and support Rams, so a massive thanks to them because they’ve supported us for a few years now.

Finally, a message to our wonderful supporters who have grown exponentially during the past decade.

The boys will go out there and give it everything and hopefully entertain you – they felt bad after Stortford, but I ask everyone to remember how hard this squad has worked in very difficult circumstances.

With three season-ending injuries to key players the younger guys have had to step up –sometimes two or three levels – but they’ve given their all and this club has always worked like that.

I remember Ian Duncan saying ‘we are always best when we look to our own’, which for me is Berkshire – when we find the little gems and they develop it’s excellent, and a few have taken the first steps on what will be bright careers.

Last year’s game with Plymouth was one of the best atmospheres we’ve ever had, so I urge our supporters to make some noise, make clubhouse corner a difficult place for Plymouth and keep up their reputation as being politely hostile.

Indeed, I’ll never forget the way Sam Daly gave it back which I thought was brilliant, a wonderful attitude and a top player.