After a four-month hiatus, The Port Douglas Reef Raiders rugby union team will play their first game of the now reduced season against the Barron Trinity Bulls at the sports complex at 4:00pm on 18 July.

The Raiders will have home ground advantage and will want to eliminate bowing out of the Rainforestation Cup after losing 35-26 to the Bulls in the FNQ Rugby Union elimination final.

In what is another bonus for the Raiders is having five home games, something they have not had for some time. They then have five away matches.

With a new captain in Jack Murday, coach Travis Gooch is heartened by the positive attitude and at this week’s training, there were 21 players.

“We have a squad of 30 players which is a healthy number to choose from. I am happy where we are at this time and naturally relieved that we can now get back to full contact at training.

“We have 10 games and based on what we have in terms of depth and talent, I would like to believe we can again reach the finals. This was one of my goals last season, which we achieved, and I hope to repeat it this season,” said Gooch.