Border Bulldogs stalwart and prop Blake Kyd is thrilled to be playing provincial rugby again after thinking his career was over at the end of last year when he retired due to the off-field problems at the union and losing his contract.
Kyd had accepted a position at Hudson Park High School and was looking forward to playing a bit of club rugby on the side, before the Bulldogs were suddenly pulled back from the brink, with Kyd slotting straight back into the starting frontrow.
“It was a surprise that the Bulldogs ended up playing this year, so I am very excited to be a part of the team and it is nice to know we have the chance to show what we can do again,” said Kyd.
“We are under-prepared, but it is good that professional rugby is up and running here again, and we are getting better every week.
“It was tough coming straight into the competition without any training, because we know the level that all these teams play at, and no amount of club rugby can prepare you for it, especially without any warm-up games, but I feel the guys have handled it quite well.”
Despite coming into the SuperSport Rugby Challenge undercooked, the Bulldogs have acquitted themselves well over their first two games, starting with a good win against the Zimbabwe Academy, and then following that up with a solid performance against Western Province despite going down 48-24.
“Nobody knew what Zimbabwe was all about, so it was a really good win to get us going,” said Kyd.
“I think everyone was expecting us to get quite a thumping from Western Province, but a few technical issues on the field was the only difference really between us and them. So I think we have been progressing really nicely.”
With the team getting better in every game they face another stiff challenge of their credentials as they now face the unbeaten Boland Cavaliers at Police Park on Saturday.
It will be a big encounter, and the Bulldogs will be hoping to pull off a surprise upset over one of the competition’s early pace- setters.
“Boland, you can never right them off. They are a very good, well drilled team, and have had much better preparation than us. So it is going to be another tough match,” said Kyd.
“Especially in the forwards department I think they are going to be a handful, but I believe the guys are up for the challenge.
“The weather hasn't been great this week, but we did have a few good training sessions, where we have looked to change a few things and learn from our mistakes against Western Province.”
This will also be the Bulldogs’ second match at a club venue, after playing against Western Province at Old Selbornians last weekend, and they will look to enjoy the occasion again and hopefully draw a good crowd for the match.
“Playing at the club venues is really nice. We are able to get out and about and take rugby to the people, and we have been drawing really nice crowds there, so we are looking forward to another big turnout at Police this weekend,” said Kyd.
Police rugby club will take on Ocean Sweepers in a Border Super League match as the curtainraiser, with the Bulldogs taking on the Cavaliers after at 3.30pm on Saturday...