George Boulton admits it was a tough decision to leave Hartpury to join Cinderford – but now that he’s made the decision he couldn’t be happier.

It’s still more than a month until the 24-year-old three-quarter reports for pre-season training with the National One new boys but he’ll certainly be ready when the club report back on Tuesday 3rd July.

“I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in,” Boulton said. “I’m a bit nervous but I’m very excited at the same time. It will be good to challenge myself in a new environment.

“It’s a bold step and is definitely the right move but it wasn’t an easy decision.”

It’s not difficult to understand why Boulton thought long and hard before leaving Hartpury.

He’d been there for eight years and played 14 times for them in the Championship last season.

“It took me a while,” he admitted. “I’d been at Hartpury for a long time and for the last six years I’d been playing senior rugby with them.

“I was offered a new contract which was very flattering but I felt that I needed a fresh start.”

Most of his games in the Championship last season came on the wing and he’s hoping to get more chances in the centre at his new club.

“I’m happy to play anywhere on the pitch but Paul Morris [Cinderford director of rugby] sees me as a centre,” he said.

“Inside centre is my preferred position and it’s always good to play in your best position – although I don’t think I disgraced myself on the wing!

“I played some good rugby at Hartpury and it was brilliant to be part of the promotion-winning teams.

“I spent three seasons with Hartpury in National One before last season so I don’t see coming to Cinderford as a step down.”

And he certainly doesn’t see Cinderford moving up a level just to make up the numbers.

“It’s going to be a really tough season but there’s no reason why we can’t compete,” he said. “And I don’t mean just staying up. I mean compete, and after the season they’ve just had there’s no reason why we can’t, let’s see how high we can finish.

“There’s a real positive feel to the club and everyone says what a fantastic club they are.”

Boulton will be linking up once again with Paul Morris, for whom he played when Morris was head coach of Gloucestershire.

“I got on really well with him and I think he quite liked me as a player,” added Boulton. “I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to play for him again. We had a couple of good results with the county and it will be good to carry it on again.”

So what sort of player can the Dockham Road faith expect next season?

“Not a flash one, a rough and ready one,” said Boulton. “Someone who puts in the hard work and tries to do the basics right. I’m big on defence and like to get across the gain line.

“I’ve got quite a lot of experience because I’ve been playing near enough full time rugby since I was 16. I’ve got an old head on young shoulders.”

Boulton will be joined at Cinderford by another Hartpury player, second row Ben So’oialo Chan, who has also signed for the coming season.