Horowhenua-Kāpiti's John Cribb happy to have rugby kick off again

Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Union chairman John Cribb.

There will be no happier man to see a game of club rugby than Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Union chairman John Cribb.

A round of pre-season games this weekend, leading in to the competition resuming the following weekend, will give players a chance to run out any Covid-19 cobwebs.

Cribb said he was rapt that some rugby would be played considering the future looked bleak a few months ago with the Covid-19 outbreak.

"It's fantastic that we're able to get some club rugby," he said.

"During level 4 there was a chance of there being no rugby played at all this year, so we're very fortunate to be playing in a window that isn't to dissimilar to our normal competition."

The club season will kick off tomorrow with local pre-season fixtures before the opening round of the 2020 competition on June 20.

The season starting date follows the return to play guidelines from New Zealand Rugby where the first date for competition games is June 20.

The 2020 Ramsbotham Cup Premier Competition has six teams - Levin College Old Boys, Paraparaumu, Rahui, Shannon, Toa and Waikanae.

A notable absentee that was originally in the competition prior to the Covid-19 lockdown is last year's champion Foxton team.

Foxton coach Waynne Napier said they had a squad together before the outbreak of Covid-19, but the numbers weren't there for a variety of reasons when they returned after lockdown.

Napier said they would look to put a team together again for 2021.

The new draw is a seven-game competition with Semi Final to be played on the 8th August and Finals weekend on Saturday, August 15 at the Levin Domain.

The Bill Muir Cup played for by Senior Reserve side sees Levin Athletic, Levin College Old Boys, Paraparaumu and Rahui play a two Round (six-week competition) with the finals weekend being played on Saturday, August 1 at the Levin Domain.

Senior Reserve games are scheduled to kick off at 1pm and Premier games at 2.45pm.

Senior grade pre-season games this weekend. Waikanae vs Paraparaumu, Waikanae Park. Toa vs Shannon, Te Atiawa Park. COB vs Rahui, Levin Domain.