Winter's first season in 4th place. Ahead of his second campaign Winter retained the core of the squad adding quality and experience including the All Black centre Sam Tuitupou from Sale Sharks, Phil Nilsen from Leeds, England International Luke Narraway from London Irish, Tonga's Latu Makaafi from Doncaster, Jack Preece, Scotland's Alex Grove, Dave Brazier and George Oram (all from local rivals Moseley) and Nile Dacres from fellow promotion chasers Plymouth Albion. In September it was announced club legend (record league points scorer and player to record most league wins as captain) Cliffie Hodgson was being released to join Broadstreet as a Player Coach. On 21 October, Coventry beat Loughborough to record 8 consecutive wins at the start of the new season. In doing so, they equalled the 16-game run of the 2014–15 season. A week later the run was extended to 17 with a win against Cambridge that saw Cov come within 2 minutes of keeping a 3rd consecutive clean sheet. A win away at Moseley on 23 December completed a perfect first half of the season, 15 victories in 15 matches. On 17 March 2018, Coventry beat Caldy 55–12 to clinch the league title and win promotion to The Championship, all with 5 games still left to play. The Championship Marquee pre- season friendly victories over local rivals, old and new, preceded Cov's return to The Championship. Traditional rivals, Moseley were beaten 62- 14 whilst a Wasps XV were despatched 55- 14. A winning return to the second tier was achieved a week later with a 20- 15 victory over Jersey Reds at The Butts Park Arena, a monumental effort considering 2 yellow cards saw Coventry reduced to 13 at one stage. That opening day win was followed up by another win next time out at home against Bedford Blues, and then giving eventual title-winners London Irish a massive scare in front of a fervent Butts Park Arena crowd. The home form was key to Coventry establishing themselves back in the Championship at the first time of asking, and while there were agonising late defeats to Nottingham and Bedford - a thriller that saw the teams share over 100 points between them - the season finished on a high with away wins against Doncaster and Jersey and an eight-place finish. Sam Tuitupou and Phil Nilsen both retired at the end of the season, but the squad has been