Barrow Raiders' director of rugby has said his players are 'itching to get going' ahead of the 2021 season and they have been busy signing new players and re-signing current squad members.

Andy Gaffney said back in December he was happy with the squad but suggested there could be a few more signings on the way – and they did not disappoint, with five new faces joining the side with the ambition to get all the way to Super League.

He said that the plan going forward was to build a strong nucleus of the team which could see them through promotion into the Championship and hopefully further; they don't want to have to start from scratch if they do get there.

"Hopefully, with the squad we have, we can get there," Gaffney said.

"We have Super League and Championship experience in there who have been in successful teams and can bring that added professionalism to the dressing room.

"We are blending them in with all the young players who we have re-signed and been brought up into the squad and have bright futures.

"Our target is obviously to gain promotion this year, and we are hoping to stay injury free as League 1 hasa few other squads with similar Championship and Super League experience in there so it won't be an easy season."

He went on to say that this mix of experienced players and young up-and-comers is the key aspect of their plan – and hopes they can bring the best out of each other and grow as a team.

Community engagement is a big part of the Raiders' identity and they are starting to reap the benefits of those efforts with many homegrown players now playing key roles in the squad.

"Before the break from training due to lockdown, there was a really good atmosphere," Gaffney said.

"There just seems to be a different buzz this year.

"It has been too long since we played, everyone is just itching to get back to it.

"However, the time off has been good for those with niggling injuries, so they have had the chance to recover properly which they wouldn't have got normally.

"We have been unlucky with long lay-offs from injuries in the past so we are hoping this will mean we are in tip-top shape for the season to come."