Randwick Rugby 1st grade side put in tough pre-season for 2017

While many may have been winding down in anticipation of the holiday season, Randwick Rugby’s first grade side has kept its foot on the pedal ahead of season 2017.

Randwick Rugby putting in the hard yards in their pre-season training. Picture: Danny Aarons.

While many may have been winding down in anticipation of the holiday season, Randwick Rugby’s first grade side has kept its foot on the pedal ahead of season 2017.

“We’re doing a lot more contact training and collision work than we have the last couple of seasons, so the intensity has been a lot higher than it normally would at this time of year,” director of rugby Nick Ryan said.

“We’re playing more conditioning games rather than making them run for the sake of running, and making it more competitive.”

“We’re playing more conditioning games rather than making them run for the sake of running.” Picture: Danny Aarons.

The Galloping Greens were knocked out in the qualifying finals of the Shute Shield competition after winning 12 out of their 18 regular season matches and finishing fifth on the ladder.

Mr Ryan said they have kept the core of the squad in place, with the players’ enthusiasm and work ethic difficult to fault.

Randwick Rugby first grade captain Pat Hodgetts at the team’s final training session for 2016. Picture: Danny Aarons.

“The biggest thing for us is how to manage pressure situations — it’s something we’ve spent a lot of time discussing and implementing in training, closing out matches and turning the close losses of 2016 into wins in 2017.

“If we can do that we’ll be in a pretty god position to give the competition a real shake.”

After wrapping up their final field session for the year last Saturday, Randwick will hit the ground running on January 16 to focus on their first trial match against the NSW 20s and Samoa A at Kippax Oval on January 31.

Will Munro takes a pass from Andrew Deegan, as he celebrated his 50th game for Randwick Rugby with a round 7 2016 Shute Shield win over West Harbour. Picture: Supplied.

“We’re probably going to use that game to blood the younger players who have joined us for future first grade seasons ... have a good look at them and how they’ve settled in against the benchmark of the senior players,” Mr Ryan said.

“We’ve got a good blend of developing and experienced players coming together.”

Three of those more experienced players are tipped as the ones to watch this season, including Nick Kellaway who will return to Randwick in February after completing pre-season with the Melbourne Rebels.

Mitchell Short is currently training with the Waratahs ahead of his return next month, along with NSW team mate and 2016 leading point scorer Andrew Deegan.

“They’re all 21 so they’ve still got plenty of their best footy ahead of them in terms of maturity and consistency, so we’re delighted to have them here to continue to play well for us,” Mr Ryan said.