THE Gunnedah Red Devils will be taking a slightly different approach to this pre-season with 20 players set to tour Canada for the next two weeks.
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Beginning with a match against Vancouver United on Friday, the team will also be taking in the latest round of the international rugby sevens before hitting the road to take on the Edmonton Rugby Club.
Club captain Matt Roseby said the two-week tour was "a great opportunity for our guys".
"I suggested a tour about a year ago based on my experience of touring America a few years ago and the guys just jumped at the opportunity," Roseby told the Namoi Valley Independent.
"As well as building a strong fitness base for the start of the season, this tour will also be a really good way for us to bond as a group.
"Adding to that is the fact a few of the Narrabri Rugby Club boys are over there at the moment as well, so we will catch up with them.
"Seeing them in Canada just goes to show how universal this game is and I'm sure we will make a lot of great memories."
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Roseby said the tour would include many fun activities for the group.
"Going along to the sevens on the first Saturday is going to be a real highlight for sure," he said.
"We are going to get in the spirit by dressing up in wigs and Wallabies jerseys as a group and call ourselves the The Honey Badgers.
"It's just for a bit of fun but hopefully something everyone can really enjoy.
"As well as that, quite a few of the boys going are right into the farming industry, so I'm sure there will be plenty for them to see and experience on that front as well."
The Red Devils squad will feature several younger players including James McGowan and club new-comer Lochie Lancaster.
"I think it is really good to have a group of younger guys coming along on this tour," Roseby said.
"These guys are the future of our club and to be fair, organising future tours will probably fall to them.
"So hopefully they enjoy themselves and form some life-long memories to inspire the next tour."
Upon returning from Canada on March 20, the Red Devils will have a short turnaround before the club's first official trial game against Quirindi on March 23.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
