NEW Coffs Rugby president Richard Officer believes that the introduction of two new reserve-grade teams in Coffs Harbour is set to make a day at the rugby in 2010 even more enjoyable for everyone.
Coffs Rugby will be entering a reserve-grade team this year as will Southern Cross University.
With Coffs Rugby again entering the Crushers and Breakers into first grade as well as an under-19s team, it means that a day at Rugby Park on Hogbin Drive this year will include four games of football.
Its great to have reserve grade back and we will see four games of rugby on Saturday afternoons at Rugby Park, Officer said.
It just wasnt country rugby last year without a reserve grade so all the up and coming players as well as the old blokes can have a run around.
The first-grade competition this year will consists of six teams (the two Coffs Rugby teams, Port Pirates, Hastings Vikings, Kempsey and South West Rocks) while reserve grade will see seven teams playing and the under-19s five.
It is great to see South West Rocks stay up in first grade and the SCU Bullants entering a team in reserve grade, the new club president said.
SCU have a very good team and will give the reserve-grade premiership a real shake.
The coaches for 2010 will be introduced to the players today when the club embarks on their now traditional Australia Day cricket match at MacLean Street oval before training starts at Jetty Beach on Thursday.
While the Twenty20 action on the field will be hotly contested, Rob Hoy and Ciaron Dunn will no doubt take some time to get to know their players for this year.
Hoy coached the Crushers last year to the minor premiership yet fell just short of the Breakers in a thrilling grand final.
Dunn has an impressive rugby resume and he will take over the reins of the premiership-winning Breakers team from Paul Butcher.
The two teams will be evenly matched up again this year and where possible players will be kept in the same team that they played for in 2009.
The club usually picks up 10 or so new players each year and this will be needed to replace Mitch Walton (Norths Rugby), Tim Metcher (ACT Brumbies rugby) and Ben Wallace (Melbourne and Scotland rugby) as well as a few players dropping back to reserve grade or retiring, Officer said.
However, we also have several exciting young players from the under 19s that will get their chance up in first grade.
