Wigton returned to training with over 35 senior players attending in the first week which was a decent turnout with the Euros and the sunny weather impacting on the footballers and the farmers’ availability to attend.
With the squad growing in both size and experience, this season has the potential for the Greens to challenge for the Counties 1 Cumbria League title, but some stern tests will await once the rugby starts.
With all last season’s squad returning and a good chunk of the Under-18s side committing to senior rugby, the club is looking for regular second team fixtures to provide competitive rugby for all the players.
The first team will once again be led by Ryan Wannop, an underrated, hard-working prop forward, who leads from the front, while Tom Maughan has started training again after missing the whole of last season with a shoulder injury.
He will add pace and power to the pack in what is sure to be a very competitive back row.
The first team has three pre-season friendlies organised which should provide useful games to prepare for the first league match at home to Hawcoat Park on Saturday, September 7.
On August 17 Garstang and Annan are coming to Wigton for a triangular competition while on August 24 there’s a good test in prospect at last season’s Cumbria champions Carlisle.
On Friday August 30 Langholm are coming to Lowmoor Road, returning the favour for the Greens travelling there last season.
The Under-18’s finished strongly last season and Wigton have a proven track record of a pathway from age grade rugby to senior squads so the coaching team anticipate competition for places across all positions for the first time in several seasons.
The club is definitely on the up and is currently involved in securing funding for new floodlights to replace the current ones that are nearly 40 years old.
This will benefit all of the age grade, senior men’s, women’s and the walking rugby teams that represent the community and train at the facility every week.
Pre- season training continues this Thursday at Lowmoor Road from 1830, with an emphasis on skill work, fitness and enjoyment, while anybody wanting to attend is welcome.
