The Upper Clutha Premier Rugby team (The Rams) will kick off its season this weekend in the Central Otago Premier Rugby Competition with a match against Maniototo in Wānaka on Saturday (March 25).

The team was beaten in the semi-finals of the competition last year, and head coach Garry-John Hape says his team is ready for the 2023 competition and “looking great”.

“It’s really exciting this year with the depth and around 16 new players,” Garry said.

“It’s really pushed the playing group to hone in.”

Garry said the new players have added some bulk to the forward pack with the inclusion of former Christchurch High School Old Boys tight head prop Ben McKeich.

He will be joined by new arrivals Blake Manning and Hayden Fleury. Blake played for Auckland Grammar last year as a lock/loose forward and Hayden, also a lock, played in the Otago Metro Competition.

This weekend's match will have some extra spice with the White Horse Cup on the line. The Rams hold the cup which is contested at home matches of the holder.

“Historically it means a lot to them [Maniototo], so they’ll come out of the blocks,” Garry said. 

“If we can get onto the kind of brand [we want to play] and get in behind their line with our big ball players and a sharp backline we’ll hopefully run them off the park.”

The Central Otago Premier Rugby competition will be contested by seven teams this season following the withdrawal of the Cromwell Cavaliers (the Cromwell Rugby Club’s second team).

The sides will play a two-round home and away competition, following which the top four sides will contest the semi-finals.

This Saturday’s match is at the Upper Clutha Rugby Club, with kickoff at 2.30pm.

PHOTO: Wānaka App