PLYMOUTH Albion look like they are going to keep the bulk of their 2009/10 squad together after flankers Sean-Michael Stephen and Wayne Sprangle extended their contracts at the Championship club.

Canadian international Stephen and England Counties forward Sprangle follow in the footsteps of Sione Tu'ipulotu, Keni Fisilau, Ruairi Cushion, Alex Davies, George Porter, Tyler Hotson, Tom Skelding, Rory Watts-Jones and Mark Lee in penning new deals at Brickfields.

Supporters were worried there would be a mass exodus at Albion following news of their financial difficulties in April.

Although they have lost Kyle Marriott and Matt Hopper to the Cornish Pirates, and could still lose a couple of other first-team regulars to clubs with bigger budgets, it does appear the majority of Albion's first-choice XV in 2009/10 will stay at the club.

Chairman of rugby Graham Dawe, who has seen his already tight budget cut by a third this summer, is certainly pleased that powerful flankers Stephen

(pictured right)

and Sprangle have decided to remain at Brickfields, where they will battle it out with Watts-Jones and new Canadian arrival Aaron Carpenter for a back-row place.

"Sean-Michael and Wayne were our number one flankers at the end of the season," said Dawe, whose team managed to secure one of last season's eight promotion play-off places.

"They have both got good work rates and finished the season well."

Stephen and Sprangle both joined Albion in 2008 and have been regular first-team squad members for the past two seasons.

Stephen arrived from Canada, having played in the 2007 rugby World Cup, while Sprangle joined from Launceston.

Dawe believes both players have improved over the last two seasons.

The Albion boss said: "Sean-Michael has brought his penalty count down and become far more physical and robust.

"But, like every player, he still has areas of his game to work on.

"Wayne has adjusted to this level very well. He makes a lot of tackles and his support play is very good."

Somerset school teacher Sprangle was part of Albion's first team squad for every Championship match last term. He ended the season with 19 league and cup starts to his name and 11 replacement appearances.

Stephen, who has an Irish passport, made 17 Championship starts, despite missing nearly three months of the season with a knee injury.

Dawe will have three Canadian internationals in his squad next term.

THE RFU yesterday confirmed Birmingham & Solihull will remain in the Championship next season, and Coventry will be relegated to National One.

Esher will be promoted in Coventry's place.