The Wauchope Rugby Football Club was founded in 1891, and then in 1920 the Club converted to rugby league, forming the basis of today's Hastings' League competition.

Ninety-four years later, rugby is back and there will be no turning around this time.

While I wish Geoff Connor and all the Hastings' League clubs the best for the upcoming season (likewise the Wauchope Blues), I believe 2015 is going to be all about the Thunder.

In those early days rugby was played in Bain Park (formerly called Wauchope Park).

The field was shared with the Wauchope Cricket Club.

Now in 2015 we are again going to be sharing the same field as the Wauchope Cricket Club, only this time it will be Andrews Park.

And while there has been a lot of "barber shop" grumblings about the centre wicket at Andrews Park being "torn apart" by a horde of rugby players, I can assure those concerned we will respect and work with the cricket club to ensure no such thing happens.

The biggest potential damage to the pitch would be for scrums to be set on the area.

Picture 16 big men packing a "real scrum" on the pitch and yes that would do some damage. However we have committed to council and the Wauchope Cricket Club that when a knock-on occurs in the wicket area, the referee will be instructed to move the scrum off the pitch.

Wauchope has a proud sporting culture and the Thunder are determined to add that culture.

We will bring more people to town and create a spectacle that people will look forward to watching on Saturday afternoons down on Andrews Park.

We have high expectations as to our players and supporters behaviour on and off the field.

Rugby's core values of passion, loyalty, respect and camaraderie are traits that you can carry throughout everyday life, and are what makes this game of ours so great.

A major part of our focus this year will be in developing an opportunity for juniors to come and try rugby.

Our Club's family and community focus means everyone is welcome.

All boys and girls are invited to come and play rugby with the Thunder. We will be fielding teams in the Friday night Port Junior Rugby competition in under 6/8s, under 10s, under 12s, and under 14s.

The 2015 season sign-on will be held at Andrews Park on Friday, March 6 from 5-6pm with a free sausage sizzle for all the family.