The Forbes Platypi will kick off their 50th season with a home game this Saturday, hosting Dubbo Kangaroos at Grinsted Oval.
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Preparations for the season opener haven’t been ideal, with the grounds too sloppy for training last week.
But the club’s Phil Prior said the side would put in three nights’ “hard slog” this week to make up for that.
“We’ll harden them up a bit,” he said.
“Our pre-season campaign hasn’t been great. We had the trial against the Guerie Goats and that was good, but that’s the only game we’ve had.”
The Platypi are thrilled to welcome Country Cockatoos prop Charlie French back to Forbes for the coming season.
French, who has been based in Armidale for the past four years while studying, has returned to the family property this year.
With his College team he has won two premierships there. But he says it’s good to be back with the club where he played as a junior and on the Colts team.
He’s enjoying being back among friends on and off the rugby field.
“It’s good to get back into a town team, playing for a community,” French said. “I think we’ve got more to play for.”
Current Cockatoos half-back Mahe Fangupo will wear the Forbes club’s blue and white again this year.
“We haven’t lost a lot of personnel from last year,” Prior said. “Our local boys who played for us last year are strapped up again.”
The Platypi will also be keen to see Matt Coles return from Spain next month.
It’s a milestone year for the Forbes Rugby Union Club and after the Platypi had a real chance in last year’s grand final, the question on everyone’s lips is can they go one better this year?
The grand final is too far away for Prior to call that yet.
“We’ve made a few short-term goals, to win our first two games,” he said. “We will be competitive.”
While the team wasn’t able to train last week due to wet weather, coach Heamani Lavaka said the squad was able to schedule an excellent one-on-one session with the referees to talk through changes to rules.
The rules announced by World Rugby last December redefine head-high tackles and increase penalties for them.
Round 2 will see a re-match of last year’s grand final, with Forbes travelling to Orange to meet the Emus.
Junior Platypi
Saturday is a club day for the Platypi, with play all day starting with the juniors.
The U13s start from 9.30am with Under 15s and 17s to follow.
The boys have all been training hard and are looking forward to getting out on the field and having a run, enjoying the game and putting some points on the board.
Last year was a successful season with 1st Grade coming runners up and the 17's making the finals.
This year the club is looking for more success with Heamani Lavaka continuing to coach the Seniors and some new faces on the coaching panel in the Junior grades.
"The coaches are all running tight ships this year and are looking forward to bringing out the best in each and every player,” Junior President Paul Shepherd said.
“We want all our players to enjoy the game while also learning all about discipline, team spirit and respect for their fellow players, referrees and officials.”
"Saturday is going to be a big day and we welcome all players, past and present, supporters and members of the Forbes community to come and join us as we celebrate the start of the 2017 season.”
