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SRWC contenders: Dubbo Rhinos

Thursday 04th December 2008

As the Social Rugby World Championship in Cape Town June 2008 draws nearer, we take a look at the participants, starting with the Dubbo Rhinos from Australia.

Entries for the Social Rugby World Championship are still welcome, log on to www.srwc2009.co.za for all the info you need, including whether you could be a part of a Barbarians team!

DUBBO RHINOS - Australia

Home Ground: Apex Oval, Dubbo, Australia
Established: 1992
Website: www.rhinos.rugbynet.com.au

From humble beginnings, the Dubbo Rhinos Rugby Club has continued to go from strength to strength and now is a competitive force in the Central West rugby in Australia.

In 1992, with interest in rugby at an all time high, two local 'identities', Roger Blake and Brian Crispin, got together, thrashed some ideas around and decided Dubbo could support another club. The Rhinos were born.

Recent seasons have provided some mixed results in all grades. The best performing team though these years would have to be the 2004 3rd grade team, self-titled 'Larso's Army' (after Dad's Army) and coached by long time Rhino Darren Larsen.

This crew of a few young guns and many old hard heads fought hard to make it to the elimination final in the region, being defeated narrowly by Wellington who went on to win the competition. The Colts had a fine season in 2006 qualifying for two semi-finals.

Another highlight over the years has been the introduction of our 'imports', young and keen players from overseas, including players from England, Scotland, Georgia, France, Fiji, Wales, New Zealand and the United Sates of America, who have all enjoyed the opportunity of extended runs with the Rhinos, providing some excellent rugby talent and a heavy dose of humour and spirit throughout the club. The Rhinos have truly become an international rugby club.

So we took the time to pose a few questions to the Rhinos' committee on their club, how it works, and a couple of obligatory beer questions...

PR: How did you hear about the SRWC?
Rhinos: Email from Graham (Lindeman, one of the organisers)

PR: Is your team a mixture of guys from different teams in your club or is it solely your social side?
Rhinos: We are a mixture of guys from different teams and social players.

PR: Do you guys tour often? Have you ever taken part in anything like this before?
Rhinos: Never toured before, so this is a huge step but very exciting.

PR: How social are you guys really? Are you coming out here to win it or for fun?
Rhinos: We are pretty social, there is always more beers downed then points scored on Saturdays. We are coming over for fun, but it would be nice to be crowned world champions!

PR: How many players and supporters are you bringing?
Rhinos: Bringing our playing squad of 20

PR: Will you be going to watch any of the Lions test games?
Rhinos: Yes, the second test in Pretoria.

PR: Have you been to Cape Town or South Africa before?
Rhinos: No, actually 90 per cent of our guys do not even have passports.

PR: What are you most looking forward to?
Rhinos: Playing rugby, beer, South African women, meeting new people, beer, sightseeing, beer, Test match.

PR: Will you be staying in Cape Town or South Africa a bit longer after the final?
Rhinos: No, as we are flying to Pretoria the next morning, the same morning of the second test match.

PR: Any good nicknames or stories to tell about any of your team mates?
Rhinos: Some good nicknames; Andrew "Pickles" Nicholson (not sure why he is called this), Alex "Batman" Milsom (that is a story to be told in person), Robert "007" Bond, Aaron "Harry Potter" Morse, are a few examples, have a guy who was called Teflon (non-stick) and another nicknamed Tampon (in for one week out for four).

PR: Who is your best player? Why?
Rhinos: Andrew "Pickles" Nicholson - has a great kicking and running game. He is definitely one player on tour who is first grade material.

PR: Any real characters in your team?
Rhinos: We are all characters in our own way, but Rangi our Kiwi friend stands out.

PR: Who can down beer the fastest?
Rhinos: Don't know for sure, probably Dave Ellis.

PR: Anyone famous ever play for your team?
Rhinos: Beau Robinson (NSW Waratah) had a run with our first grade team last year during the season and Ross Duncan who played for the Australian Sevens team is a former Rhino.

PR: If you guys aren't watching rugby what are you doing?
Rhinos: Socialising, working, living life.

PR: Any weird or wonderful professions amongst any of your players?
Rhinos: Nothing too out of the ordinary, we have a shearer, a landscaper, a couple of electricians, a surveyor, a tow-truck driver, a glazier, a banker, a couple of students, a teacher and a manager of a chain of pizza stores.

PR: Who in your squad is most likely to throw his name away first?
Rhinos: Robert Bond.

PR: We look forward to catching it next year. Cheers!
Rhinos: Cheers!