Old Boys up for the challenge

Having started training in November for the 2015 season, Old Boys are ready to rock the boat this year and first up is the Cell C Community Cup due to start next month.

The rugby club, one of the best in East London is going into the first tournament of the year with some major changes. They have a new coach on board in the form of David McCallum and a new president, Matthew Abdo.

The Community Cup pool stages start on February 21 and Old Boys open with a clash against Durbanville-Bellville.

According to secretary of the Old Selbornian Club and Old Boys first team manager, Marias Rathbone, the club’s target in the Community Cup is to achieve a top eight finish to qualify for the Community Cup Easter weekend competition.

With that in mind, they assembled for training as early as last November until taking a Christmas break. However, Rathbone admitted achieving their goal would not be easy having been drawn in a pool with strong opponents such as PE Police, Springs and defending champions Rustenburg Impala in Pool A.

Key to ensuring that they reach their target would be getting the result in the first game against Durbanville-Bellville. “Our aim is to make the top eight and how we play in the first game will decide our fate. Yes we have a new coach, Dave McCallum taking over as head coach, he’s coming in with fresh ideas and we can only grow from strength to strength,” said Rathbone.

McCallum have to fill in the big shoes left by Alistair Alexander who had a successful spell in the job but has since stepped aside to focus more on his full-time job as a police officer.

Alexander led the old Boys to a log summit of the Border Super League last year, only to be beaten by Police in the final.

Also, under Alexander’s guidance during the same year, they were crowned champions of the Flya Cup tournament and have dominated local rugby for at least the past three years. Good for the club, McCallum is not new to the Old Boys setup having been there for the past three years. He in fact thinks him taking over will allow for smooth transition.

“The boys are coming up nicely for the Cell C Community Cup despite the small disruptions to our programme by the Christmas break. Mine is to build on the successes we have had in the past under Alie . At Old Boys, being the head coach is not a one-man band, it has always been about team effort,” said McCallum.

For the year 2015, said Rathbone, players fitness and preparedness for games will be of utmost importance for Old Boys to maintain their dominance. Top of the club’s wish list for the year is to defend the Flya Cup, win the Super League and qualify for the Easter weekend playoffs.

Rathbone said they had kept most of the players from last season, including influential and experienced number eight Roy Bursey who will be expected to lead by example.

McCallum summed up his plan for the club: “Most important of all our ambitions is to keep on our dominance of the Border League and improve in every match we play both in the league and in cup competitions.”

Meanwhile, SA Rugby Union (Saru) has confirmed Rustenburg, as the host for the Community Cup Easter playoffs. The town is home to defending champions, Rustenburg Impala. In a statement released by the rugby body yesterday, Saru CEO Jurie Roux said: “Club rugby’s vibe is unique mainly because club venues around the country are intimate and cater for the whole family. “Watching club rugby is a unique experience. It’s different to watching a provincial game at a stadium and we wanted to tap into that uniqueness.

“The Community Cup’s pool stage, which sees clubs host all 40 matches, is a winning formula and we would like to carry that into the Easter playoffs.”