After a COVID-19 induced hiatus, the Parkes Boars will return to the field on July 18 when they take on the Mudgee Wombats at Pioneer Oval.
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The rugby union club will be fielding two grades in the New Holland Cup this season, in addition to women joining the club for the first ever time.
Player/Coach Josh Miles says the focus for the club this season was to remain competitive, and brushed aside any notion of setting concrete goals as of yet in such an unknown climate.
"Going on our results last season, we just want to be competitive and aim to get two teams on the park week after week.
"After the opening three to four games we will look to set ourselves a realistic benchmark when we know what we're up against and where we sit," says Miles.
We will playing a lot of running rugby with a few new faces in the back line....it will lead to a really open game style.
- Josh Miles
The club has been back training for several weeks now, but COVID-19 measures mean they have only just been able to start contact training, and with such a technical game like rugby union, this is a huge hindrance.
Miles was unperturbed however, and full of praise for the way the club has embraced every aspect of the current environment, with the addition of a women's side a welcome boost to the culture.
"We've been getting awesome numbers at training. It's great to be back playing with my mates here in Parkes.
"The girls are going really well, and their numbers at training are great. They've brought a lot of energy into the club and they are loving the social aspect of rugby," says Miles.
While other sides in the New Holland Cup have managed to secure several group 10 and 11 rugby league stars due to those competitions being cancelled, no Spacemen have come across to the Boars and the club has full faith in the current crop of union players.
There will still be plenty of new faces in the first grade side, and Miles says the club will be looking to adjust their tactics accordingly.
"We will be playing a lot of running rugby with a few new faces in the back line.
"It will lead to a really open game style and give the players a chance to express themselves," says Miles.
Fortunately for the Boars, the club was able to squeeze in a few trial games before the COVID-19 lockdown meaning they've had some chances to gel on the field.
The club also 're-launched' their season on July 3 at the Coachman Hotel Motel, giving them an opportunity to come together as a club off the field and get behind their supporters and sponsors.
There may not be senior rugby league this year, but be sure to get behind the Boars as they represent Parkes when the season gets underway on July 18.
