CHEPSTOW RFC centre Shane Reece has achieved a long-standing ambition after being named first team captain for the coming season.

The 27-year-old – who was vice captain last year- takes over from Alyn Franklin who has stepped down due to work commitments.

Reece, who is beginning his 11th year with the club, is following in the footsteps of his dad Steve, who remains Chepstow's longest-serving skipper.

He said: "It has always been a personal aim to captain the club one day, especially with my dad having done it for so long and it is a real honour.

"I am really looking forward to implementing some new ideas and hopefully taking us to the next level and getting promoted."

Reece's appointment coincides with a change in the backroom set-up at Chepstow with first team coach Phil Smith taking a more of a back seat role early in the season as he recovers from illness. As a result club stalwart Andrew Morris will take over the forwards coaching duty and fly-half Nick Williams will coach the backs.

And Reece is determined that it is not just the personnel that are set to change this season but the club's approach to a number of areas including training, selection and the make-up of the second XV.

He said: "Rather than it be like a pub side I want the second team to be a development squad so the players in it are looking to push into the first team.

"We have talked for a few years about trying to make it a 'train or you don't play' culture but this year we are looking at implementing it and getting together a register and a list of apologies so that the people that aren't coming training are named and shamed.

"Hopefully this will encourage everyone to make the effort to come training and selection will reflect commitment even if it means not always picking the best players."

Chepstow are set to announce their pre-season friendlies this week and also have a new website http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/chepstowrfc">http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/chepstowrfc.