Dawson’s prepared for a busy summer at Raiders

Dawson is looking to assemble a squad that will keep their position in the league and believes a lower-to-mid-table finish is achievable.

He is hoping to keep together the majority of the squad who got Worthing promoted, although Kiba Richards has gone to play in New Zealand for six months and Raiders are unlikely to see Harlequins loanees Harry Sloan and Jordan Burns return.

Sloan is expected to join Championship side Ealing, while Burns could join Rosslyn Park – also in National 1 – where he will play scrum-half.

Worthing hope to keep Ollie Richards, who joined the club on loan from Newcastle Falcons in February, and, looking ahead to next season, Dawson said: “We’re under no illusions and it’s going to be a season of consolidation and we’ll be looking to finish lower to mid-table for a couple of years and then begin to push on.

“I’m not saying this because we haven’t got good players or because we haven’t got ambition, because we have, but every game is going to be tough next season and we’re not going to be able to take our foot off the gas as it will take a season to get used to the higher level.”

Dawson is hoping that he can keep together the bulk of last season’s squad, although said: “The vultures are circling around the club already and a few of the players have had offers. We’ve spoken to all of them, though, and told all of them that we want them to stay.