KIWI QUARTET IN PRE-SEASON TRIALS

Colchester Rugby Club travel to Haslemere in Surrey for their first pre-season run-out, with a number of new players and Colts trying out for the club to challenge for places in the first team squad.  The All Blacks are taking part in Haslemere's 15-a-side tournament on Sunday, with 16 teams from around the South East including Winchester, Old Blues, Widden Old Boys from Gloucestershire, London Exiles, Kingston and Old Actonians.  Games are 20 minutes each, and each team is guaranteed at least four matches on the day.

As it a Bank Holiday weekend, the players will stay overnight in Surrey as part of a bonding and team building exercise.  Then on Tuesday night it will be the home supporters' first chance to see the players in action when Colchester take on Tendring Barbarians under lights in what has become a traditional season opener.  Players from Brightlingsea, Clacton, Harwich & Dovercourt, Mersea Island and Mistley will be joined by others from Essex University and the Garrison to form a strong Barbarians side captained by Clacton's Lee Amman.  Kick-off is at 7:30pm.

Tendring Barbarians captain Lee Amman and Colchester's Jay Duder with the Rugby World Cup trophy before the last meeting of the teams in March.  Colchester won 29-15 Click picture to view full size

Amongst the players taking part in the tournament will be Colchester's Kiwi quartet of Jay Duder, Shane Manning, Matt Cammock, and newcomer Fergus Rolston.  Manning is aiming to be first choice hooker this season, while the other three will hoping to add their weight and height to the Colchester All Black pack.  Rolston arrived at Colchester a week ago having flown in from Argentina where he was playing in Buenos Aires. 6'6" lock Cammock returned to the club after spending a year back in New Zealand, and Duder will start his second season as First team captain.

Colchester's Kiwi quartet model the new First XV shirts for the season, sponsored by JS Financial Solutions.  Left to right: Fergus Rolston, Matt Cammock, Shane Manning, Jay Duder Click picture to view full size

One player who will miss the tournament is Fijian prop Seru Rainima, who is flying in from Australia at the end of the month to join Colchester.  Seru, 6'3" and 18 stone, has represented Fiji at U19 and U21 levels, and has been playing for premier club Gordon in Sydney.  His wife has taken up a teaching job in the UK and Seru chose Colchester where his cousin already plays. Click picture to view full size

21/8/04