FORMER Premiership star Tim Collier is adamant Bournemouth can become a south west rugby powerhouse – and he is urging the public to boost Lions’ quest.

The 34-year-old believes the Chapel Gate outfit is in prime position to fly the flag for the sport throughout the region.

Lions are closing in on promotion from National Three South West – the fifth tier of English rugby – and boast one of the country’s best records having lost just once in the league this season.

Ex-England under-21s second row Collier, who plied his trade with Harlequins and Worcester in the top flight of domestic rugby, is a player-coach at the Dorset club.

Collier has been impressed by Bournemouth’s set-up since linking up with Lions.

And when asked if he thought there was scope for Bournemouth to push up the divisions with more public backing, he replied: “Yes, definitely.

“If we get promotion this year – fingers crossed we will – Bournemouth would be the biggest club in the south west at that level.

“Then, hopefully, we would get recruitment from other clubs that have been unlucky in getting relegated.

“We would be one of the only national clubs in the south west, which would be a massive boost for us. And then for Joe Public, who wanted to come and see some decent rugby, Bournemouth would be the club to come and watch.”

Collier, who played alongside rugby legends including Will Carling, Jason Leonard and Keith Wood when he began his career at Quins, says more support and increased attendances would help Bournemouth’s chances of progression.

He said: “We want to be successful and rugby is getting bigger and bigger as a national game.

“We need as much support as we can get from the public. They all enjoy it when they do come down.

“Our place is a fortress but it will be more of a fortress when we have got a crowd behind us.”

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s home clash against Newton Abbot (2pm), Collier added: “In the National League, people are getting paid quite a lot of money to play every Saturday and even in this league players are getting paid.

“We run on nothing because we run on passion. We are a family club, from the first team to the seconds and all the way down to the third team.

“We are a family and we are in it together. We don’t play for money and we don’t play for a contract – we play for each other.”