Colchester Rugby Club coach Tim Grimsey feels the team will now start to see the benefits of its large squad and rotation policy.

Grimsey has named his squad ahead of tomorrow’s London League division one north trip to Letchworth, but has opted to leave several players out.

However, he was keen to point out that players’ fitness rather than form was the deciding factor.

Grimsey said: “We have rested some players, like Joe McMillan for example, and that’s purely because we are in a position that we can rest people now.

“It is no reflection on them, but we are now able to give guys a week off and say ‘you have done brilliantly, now have a week off and you will be back in next week’.

“None of these guys are going to be able to play 26 league games this season with the intensity and power we are coming up against."

See this week's Essex County Standard for more on this story and a round-up of all the local rugby action.

Colchester squad: James Mitchell (capt), Stuart Silvester, Andy Le Chevalier, Liam Pickett, Elliott Castle, Ollie Pickett, Dan Whiteman, Tiko Tamani, Nick Cooper-Hicks, Ricky McFarlane, Andrew Hall, Matt Baker, Matt Barnes, Darryl Walters, Jack Wiggins, Lawrence Tapper, Damien Brambley, Brett Cutbush, Adam Cook.