Director of rugby Steve Hill has revealed he will rely on his current squad to adapt to life in the Championship should they get there.

Hill’s men went five points clear at the top of National Division One last week with a 31-17 win at Loughborough students.

Richmond host second-placed Hartpury College tomorrow and travel to Rosslyn Park next week to round off their pre-Christmas schedule and two wins would put them in a commanding position in the league going into the new year.

Promotion would mean elevation into the professional ranks, but Hill has no desire to dismantle what has become a successful formular at the Athletic Ground when it comes to competing for Championship survival.

“The jump from level three to level two is the biggest in rugby,” he said.

“You are basically going from a semi-professional set-up to a full-time professional league over night.

“We would have to think about how we approach things, but if we get there I would want to give the guys who got us promoted the opportunity to compete at that level.”

“To be top of the table going in to the new year would be a fantastic achievement for the players.

“But we have two very tough games to finish this year with and we are under no illusions that we have a ridiculously tough January ahead.

“If we are still in the top two by the end of January the club will have to think about what we do next.”