Ross Sutherland Rugby Club ready to start new season if there are no further delays
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Ross Sutherland Rugby Club will continue preparing for the 2020/21 season until told otherwise.
Scottish Rugby released the fixture list for the new campaign last week, but with restrictions being tightened around the UK there are no guarantees matches will be able to go ahead as planned next month.
The Stags were placed into the regionalised Caledonia North Competition Two, based on their league standing when last season was brought to an abrupt end.
As far as a format goes, it is a simple equation for the club, as they will stick to an eight-team league where teams play each other home and away.
So unless there are further setbacks nationwide in the pandemic that affect rugby’s return, they will kick off the season in Invergordon against Moray.
Ross Sutherland have been back in limited training for the last few weeks, so they should be ready to get the season up and running, especially given friendlies will be allowed to take place in the two weeks before the opening league match on October 31.
Club president John Scott, also on the coaching team as coach co-ordinator, is confident that the work that the playing squad has done so far will pay off as the focus starts narrowing in on league action.
For Scott, it is just a case of handling what is within their control, as there is nothing he would be able to do about pandemic restrictions – those decision would be taken above his head by the powers that be at Scottish Rugby.
“All we can do is plan for these fixtures,” Scott insisted.
“If Covid delays things further, then we will take it as it comes.
“All our training and planning at this stage is based on getting those fixtures started on October 31.
“The squad is ready, obviously we’re in SRU phase four, which means we can do limited contact for a limited time and little bits and pieces of scrummage and line-out work, albeit with reduced numbers.
“We’re working to a programme that’s a blend of coaching skills.
“The group that we’ve got is working really well, and the players have responded really well.
“Fitness testing has been good, we’ll be checking them again in the next week or so to see how they’ve progressed, but our feeling is that the squad is quite fit.
“We have a really good culture with good banter, we’ve had decent numbers training three times a week, so we’re ready to go.”
Read the full edition of today's North Star here.
