CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Hunter's Ale House Mudmen know how hard it was to get to the top of the Maritime rugby mountain last season.
They also realize it won’t be any easier this time around as they start their title defence today at Co-op Field in Charlottetown.
“It’s always harder to repeat than it is to actually win it (the first time),” veteran Phil Gallant said after Tuesday’s practice.
The Mudmen swept the Maritime division one and two championships in 2018 after winning the Rugby Nova Scotia league titles.
The division two Mudmen won the Shannon Cup as league champs and the Wheaton Cup as the Maritime champs. The division one Mudmen captured the Caledonia Cup in the Maritime final, after tasting victory in the league title game. The division one squad doesn't start its title defence until July 13.
The division two squad opens the season today by hosting Riverlake at 2 p.m. as part of an action-packed day of rugby that goes rain or shine.
Gallant said the division two squad returns its core from last year while some players are in St. John’s, N.L., this weekend with the P.E.I. Abbies provincial team for Super League action.
He said the fiery young division two squad has been boosted by some new faces, providing renewed energy and talent to the club.
“We have a lot of guys that weren’t there last year that saw how much fun we had in winning and they want to be part of that this year,” he said. “That (energy) is kind of contagious throughout the club.”
The rest of the division will be bringing their A-game each time they play the defending champs, meaning the Mudmen will have to play structurally sound and communicate well.
“We kind of have a target on our back,” Gallant said. “Our team is going to be strong, but I think we’re going to see a lot tougher opponents.”
The Mudmen are coached by Mike Lloyd, Leigh Reid, Kyle Robertson and Forrest Spencer.
Opening day
A look at today’s rugby schedule at Co-op Field in Charlottetown.
Noon – Enfield at Charlottetown Rugby Football Club, women’s division one.
2 p.m. – Riverlake at Hunter's Ale House Mudmen, men’s division 2.
4 p.m. – Riverlake at Charlottetown Rugby Football Club, women’s division two.
5 p.m. – Hunter's Ale House Mudmen Old Boys vs. Young Guys, exhibition.
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