ECSTATIC Dan Jeffries believes newly-promoted Salisbury RFC will hold their own in the National League.

The head coach guided Green and Whites to a famous 26-24 victory over Thornbury in the South West 1 (East) play-off final.

That result sees them join the fifth tier of English rugby where they will face the likes of Bournemouth, Newton Abbot, Hornets and Old Redcliffians, many of whom compete at a semi-professional level.

But despite the range of high-calibre teams, the Castle Road outfit will remain amateur next term.

"I'm incredibly proud," beamed Jeffries.

"When I was appointed, the first thing I said was Salisbury should be a National League rugby club.

And at the time, it was quite a bold statement after the year they had gone down, but I knew a lot of boys from county representative stuff and I knew there was enough talent in the side.

"Guys like Josh Green and Dave Tonge, who have played for the club since they were seven, are National League rugby players and I didn't want them to go somewhere else to do it.

"We have 18 players who can play National League rugby."

The club has transformed in the past two years after a turbulent 2013/14 season in which they were relegated from South West, finishing rock-bottom.

But in the following two years, under Jeffries' guise, he engineered back-to-back promotions, first from Southern Counties South then from South West 1 East on Saturday.

Tom Lane's 77th minute penalty - the last kick of the game - was enough for Green and Whites to edge past the Bristol visitors on D-day.

"The boys have worked really hard for two years," added Jeffries.

"Winning is a habit and once we got the boys into that mindset, we didn't have to develop their play a great deal.

"They've carried themselves through and been pivotal in the two seasons we've had.

"The big thing about play-offs is that they judge the whole season. If we would have lost, the boys would have felt disappointed even though they've had a great two years.

"To come away with it is the icing on the cake."

The Wyvern College deputy head teacher hopes the resolve, coupled with the standard they will be playing at in 2016/17, will help attract high talent.

"Salisbury produces quality players and we do need to look to the army and other local sides but we'll be the highest-placed side in Wiltshire, and hopefully that will attract a lot of guys in," he continued.

"I know, going into next year, we are more than strong enough to compete."