A stern test faces the Mid Canterbury Combined side in its UC Championship opener.

The squad will travel north to face off with defending UC Championship and South Island 1st XV champions Nelson College.

“It’s fantastic,” Combined head coach Shane Enright said.

He said the Combined side will definitely not be daunted by the challenge ahead, after making some key acquisitions in the off season.

Eighteen-year-old Michael Hennings has arrived from Suva and has been touted as an exciting prospect.

Mid Canterbury Heartland coach Jason Rickard has also been brought into the fold after the cancellation of the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship and will manage the forwards.

In line with the community rugby framework, the UC Championship is set to kick off on June 20, running through until September.

The structure of the competition has escaped any overhauls due to Covid-19 and will operate as a standard round of 14 championship.

The players were let loose for their first pre-season training yesterday afternoon.

“The team is fizzing,” Enright said.

Community rugby shifted into a prepare-to-play phase this week following the Government’s softening of mass gathering limits.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 29 May 2020