The season may be only two games old but London Scottish fly half Dan Mugford already has his sights set on reaching the Premiership.
 

The 20-year-old number 10 starred for the Exiles as they retained their Championship status with a nailbiting final day win over Esher in May.
 

Head coach Simon Amor’s men have started the current campaign well with a win over Rotherham prior to Saturday’s 49-32 bonus point defeat to former top flight outfit Newcastle Falcons at the Athletic Ground.
 

Scottish got a taste of what life might be like in the Premiership when they were beaten 42-21 by champions Harlequins at the Stoop during pre-season.
 

But Mugford, who was on the bench for the Falcons defeat, insisted recent experience has only given him a greater thirst to reach the top flight, whether that be with his current employers or otherwise.
 

“We have brought in some really good guys this year to strengthen the squad and there is no reason why we cannot finish in the top four,” he said.
 

“That is what we aspire to and if I’m leading the side at 10 and we are playing well then hopefully that will be good for my career.
 

“I’d love to play in the Premiership and having played against guys who have performed at that level I’m working even harder to get there.
 

“If I was at a top flight club now I don’t think I’d be learning as much as I am with Scottish.
 

“Playing at this level week in, week out is a great place to learn.
 

“Hopefully, another solid year in the Championship and another year of pushing my game on will be good for my career.
 

“London Welsh finished fourth and got promoted and I’d love to push all the way for this great club and take Scottish to the Premiership.”
 

Mugford, who lives in St Margaret’s, switched to Scottish last summer having made his name at Cambridge and he finished the campaign among the competition’s leading points scorers.
 

He viewed last season’s final day with a hint of disappointment, given the club had targeted a top-eight finish rather than a relegation play-off scrap.
 

“We were obviously very happy we stayed up but we were disappointed we hadn’t hit our goals,” he said.
 

“I was happy with how my season went, but the fact we only survived on the final day gives you the drive to improve and work hard to make sure you are not there again.”
 

Falcons director of rugby and former Quins chief Dean Richards returned to Richmond for the first time in a competitive sense since the end of his Bloodgate ban at the weekend, and went home happy.
 

Scottish were 35-11 down at the break, but a penalty try and efforts from captain Mark Bright and Tyler Hotson – to go with Richard Bolt’s first half score – ensured a point.
 

Amor’s men take to the road for the first time today when they travel to Bedford Blues.