Ramsey Rugby Club get their season underway on Saturday in South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three (South) with a home clash against Wallasey.

The visitors to the Mooragh shipped 71 points against Southern Nomads in the Cheshire Plate last Saturday and while the result will provide some encouragement for Ramsey, they will take nothing for granted as many of the UK-based sides view the Plate as a development competition and don’t always field their best sides.

Ramsey have a new skipper this season in the formidable shape of tight head prop Michéal Flynn and he will have his work cut out.

Loose head prop Dave Hinks has headed off to the bright lights of Douglas, no doubt lured by promises of pies aplenty. With props in short supply, Will Wren or Jarred Callister look set to fill the void.

Ramsey will also be missing Josh Bowman, Callum Clague, Liam Sommer and Abu Migoda who all head off-island, so there should be opportunities for one or two of the fringe players to gain an extended run in the first team.

There are also rumours that Matthew Meechan could be fit again and that the Mooragh scavenger Jake Severs may be making a return.

Ramsey also welcome back Kiwi coach John Moorren who has already enthused the training ground with ideas and drills from Down Under and the team will be looking for a top-five finish to be in with a shout in the rather long-winded promotion process this season.

A good crowd and home advantage will be a big help and the side should see off Wallasey.

Turbo Tens to start

domestic season

The executive committee which runs domestic rugby has given the season a little makeover ahead of the new campaign.

Instead of beginning with the Manx Shield, we will instead see two weekends of Turbo Tens, a 10-a-side format which makes the game a little more interesting for players and supporters alike.

The format is as the name suggests but has a number of interesting features. The scrummage can be three or five-man and there are different points values for tries depending on where they’re scored.

The format is a little different but is intended to build the intensity of the season gradually before 15-a-side starts in three weeks’ time.

The seven domestic sides will be split into two pools and there’s even a modest prize for each pool winner.

Pool one is at King William’s College and will feature Southern Nomads, Douglas Celts and Ramsey B, while pool two is at Ballafletcher and will feature Vagabonds B, Emerging Nomads and Castletown.

Western Vikings have opted not to play this weekend due to another commitment but should feature in round two.

Fixtures

Saturday, September 2:

North One West

Douglas v Warrington @ Port-e-Chee ko 3pm

South Lancashire/Cheshire Two

Vagabonds v Winnington Park

@ Ballafletcher ko 2pm

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Three

Ramsey v Wallasey @ Mooragh Park ko 2pm

MEC Turbo Tens

Southern Nomads/Douglas Celts/Ramsey B @ King William’s College ko 2.15pm

Vagabonds B/Emerging Nomads/Castletown @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm