Head coach Matt Corker is thrilled with the way Canterbury Rugby Club’s existing players have welcomed their summer signings into the squad.

Corker’s city club are set to begin their new National League 2 East campaign when they welcome newly-promoted Colchester to Merton Lane today.

Among Canterbury’s new recruits are former Auckland and Jersey centre Kurt Heatherley, who joins after a summer playing on the Sevens circuit in France for Clermont.

The 29-year-old New Zealander, who has British ancestry, is an all-round sportsman. He was also a star Australian Rules football player before he made the switch to rugby.

Others added to Corker’s ranks in the close season include former Scotland under-20 international Oliver Frostick, versatile Welshman Chad Thomas and ex-London Welsh back-three player Jack Cohen.

“Something we’re really proud of is the way we welcome new players and how we make them feel comfortable,” said Corker. “That’s not down to me - that’s down to the boys.

“We have got another new lad this week, Kurt, who’s really exciting.

“He’s a big man and he’s played at a good level. His experience will be something that everyone can learn from.

“We have managed to get through the pre-season without too many injuries.

“We have got a couple but they will really add to the group when they’re back, which is exciting.”

In the build-up to the new campaign, a seven-try 52-7 victory at Harpenden sandwiched pre-season defeats against higher-division Esher (45-26) and Blackheath (41-12) last Friday.

Corker said: “Our feeling, as a side, is we have used our time well and made steps forward.

“Having some really competitive friendlies against teams from leagues above, we have learnt some great lessons. But it’s also been a chance for the lads to show what they’re about.

“The defence is something that we have been working on.

“That’s an area I’m really excited about but, ultimately, we will only really know where we’re at on Saturday.”

Canterbury will be out to improve on last term’s seventh-placed finish, having taken big strides forward in recent years.

“The important thing for us is to just be consistently moving forward,” said Corker.

“We have no reason to go backwards.

“We have reflected that we didn’t start as well as we could have last season. We have broken down this first batch to a block of four games and it’s about hitting the ground running.

“Our focus as a team is to get better each week.

“By focusing on that, our league position will take care of itself.”

Long-serving centre Tom Best has become a new club life member this summer, as has coach John Mitchell.

But Best, who made his 300th Canterbury first-team appearance earlier in the year, might have to wait until he’s able to get back into first-team action.

Corker explained: “He, unfortunately, got concussed against Esher.

“He’s been out but Tom is with us again this season. I should get an update on how he’s doing this week.”

After Saturday’s opener with Colchester - who were promoted as champions last campaign - Canterbury hit the road to take on Sevenoaks in a big Kent derby.

“They’re a relative unknown to us,” noted Corker on their weekend’s opposition. “Getting promoted to a new league is always a challenge.

“But these teams that are coming up will be doing so off the back of a successful season. When you get promoted, you do need to adjust to the league.

“We will be focusing on ourselves. We have learnt the hard way that there’s no easy games in this league.

“We’ll need to focus on our own execution because that’s what we’re in control of.”