Howard Salkow

Senior Journalist

The Port Douglas Reef Raiders rugby union team has a new captain, they are training within the restrictions guidelines and looking forward to playing at least 12 matches when the season resumes 25 July.

For a team that picked up a pre-season trophy winning the Hambo 10’s tournament mid-March – before Covid-19 kicked in – it’s been a frustrating period for the club and the players in particular.

Hosted annually by Southside Rugby Club in Cairns, the Raiders defeated Barron 19-7 in the final of this 10-player-a-side tournament which plays two 10-minute halves.

“But we are now starting to move forward and I am delighted to announce that Jack Murday has been appointed captain and we look forward to benefiting from his leadership,” said Raiders coach Travis Gooch.

Murday was a standout player last season and is once again expected to be a key player in the Raiders team.

A club that always struggled with numbers, Gooch said many of the international players had remained during the pandemic and said he was confident he would have a good base to work from.

Gooch, who said the team was now working on basic fitness and skills, said the season was expected to start 25 July with the finals in the first week of October.

“If we can reach the play-off stages, it will mean playing 12 matches. This is what we will be aiming for,” he said.