Three-time Graincorp Cup south premiership winning player-coach Baz Hobby says the Blayney Rams will be able to compete with the top sides in a proposed second tier Central West Rugby Union (CWRU) competition in 2018.
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Given the success of the two blues, the Rams are expected to be one of six sides contesting the CWRU’s new second tier premiership next winter, joining Mudgee, Parkes, Dubbo Rhinos and potentially Cowra.
With the top tier also being culled from 10 clubs to six next season, the second tier will include some of this year’s Blowes Clothing Cup outfits.
That doesn’t bother Hobby.
He’s confident the Rams’ best XV will be more than competitive with the teams that are already looking to form the second tier.
Narromine, the Graincorp Cup north champions in 2017, is also expected to be placed in the CWRU’s second tier, a competition that will require clubs to field a first and second grade side.
And, if you ask Hobby, it’s that requirement of a second grade outfit that will prove Blayney’s biggest hurdle moving up a grade.
“I think, competition wise, we’ll be right. We’ve got a strong team,” he said following his side’s premiership win over Temora at King George Oval a fortnight ago.
“But if they want the two teams, it’s going to be tough.
“We had 30 players (for the grand final), but during the year we were scraping.
“It’s hard to field two teams, but competition wise I think we’ll be up for it.”
