Costin hails first get-together

NEW FACES: players and coaches from Oldham RL’s Extended Scholarship Scheme line-up before the first training session.

COACH Phil Costin is enthusiastic about the new additions to Oldham RL Club’s Extended Scholarship squad after overseeing their first pre-season training session.

Several fresh faces joined last year’s group — most of whom are still eligible for the under-18s competition and have committed to a second term of youth rugby with the club — at Limeside Park for an ice-breaking get-together.

Costin said: “I was very impressed. We didn’t have a full turn-out because some lads still have amateur commitments and a couple of the new arrivals could not make it on this occasion, but we will soon be up to full strength.

“We did some ‘buddying up’, which means a new player pairs off with a lad from last season. It helps to break the ice and I am sure the experience the current crop garnered last season can be of benefit to their new team-mates.

“It was absolutely freezing — so much for summer rugby! But I am happy with how it went, some good skills work after the introductions.”

The squad will meet every Saturday in January and February before preparations step up a gear in March, with two sessions a week ahead of the competitive action, which runs from April to July.

Costin’s charges will take on Keighley, Hunslet, Halifax, York and Leigh once each, plus one of the teams twice to make six games in total.