With the pre-Christmas rugby competitions now decided, the Ravenscroft Manx Cup and Plate can get underway.

This season brings a new look to both tournaments but a familiar feel. The Cup will be contested by Douglas Celts, Ramsey, Southern Nomads and Vagabonds, while the Plate will see Emerging Nomads, Ramsey B, Vagabonds Hornets and Western Vikings competing.

Both competitions will be played on a round robin league basis with semi-final play-offs and a finals day. They will be played on alternate weekends, starting with the Cup this Saturday.

Manx Trophy winners Ramsey get their campaign underway when Southern Nomads visit Mooragh Park.

The two met there earlier in the season in a Trophy game Nomads will want to forget, but the men in green have improved a lot since then and will be a good test for Ramsey.

Despite that, the northerners are also looking a little stronger since the start of the campaign. Danny Howard is back from a long-term absence and two tries for the second team last week in his first start of the season suggests that he’s in contention for a place.

Youngster Jake Richmond in his second game of the campaign also bagged two and should be in the mix as well.

In the other Cup game, Sure-sponsored Vagabonds host Douglas Celts at Ballafletcher. The two meetings in the Trophy ended up one win apiece, but the Celts have struggled with player numbers thus far and, with Vagas having a steadier team, they’re probably pre-match favourites.

Harri Wallis appears in good nick in the Vagas centres and could be a man to watch on Saturday, in addition to the usual threats from Nathan Gibson in the forwards and try machine Steve Gawne out wide.

Fixtures

Saturday, January 22:

North One West

Douglas v Manchester

@ Port-e-Chee ko tbc

Ravenscroft Manx Cup

Ramsey v PDMS Southern Nomads

@ Mooragh Park ko 2.15pm

Sure Vagabonds v Douglas Celts

@ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm