Block Three of pre season starts next week – the squad are building nicely towards the home ‘friendly’ against Ulster and the trip to Richmond, with the Club Open Day on the horizon next Saturday…One player who knows our first opponents of the new term very well is lock Jake McCay – the Northern Irelander has arrived at Ellgia Fields via a sojourn in Spain and can’t wait to lock horns with former friends and team mates when Ulster arrive in two week’s time.
“I started playing rugby in school in Northern Ireland and progressed through Age Goup rugby with Ulster – and played for Queen’s University in Belfast, which, through my degree, gave me opportunities to go abroad. I spent my Erasmus Year in Alicante in Spain, came home, Queen’s got promoted to Division One B and I got selected for Irish Universities. After completing my teaching qualifications I decided to go back to Spain to teach and play rugby. All that’s led me here to Cambridge – and it’s very exciting!
“The craic’s been mighty here already – the boys have been very welcoming. We’re looking forward to the visit of Ulster and everything’s moving towards that game – we’re getting stronger and stronger as a group. I am so excited for Ulster coming here – it’s almost the prefect start for me. Having played a few ‘A’ games I know a lot of the boys through that and also through the club system and Queen’s. The University is well connected into that system and a lot of the boys on that pathway have gone on to bigger and better things. To have a year out abroad then to be able to come back and have a crack at those old mates is a fantastic opportunity. We’re focussed on our drills and getting everything right.
“There’s been a lot of turn-over here over the summer – players and coaches – and some off-field renovations too, including the new gym! The players are working really hard. Personally, I have a point to prove at this level and I can’t wait to get stuck in on the field!”