Opening game in the pink for Navan

ANOTHER rugby season and Navan coach Kieran Mattson is gearing up for a campaign with a difference. As well the teams that lay in wait only too willing to scupper any title-winning plans, Mattson, like other rugby players around the country, must come to terms with a new set of rules. The introduction of the grandiosely named, Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), have already caused plenty of discussion and controversy. Over the past month or so coaches and players have been working on training grounds to try and ensure that the rules are not transgressed and valuable possession, or scores, needlessly conceded. Affected more than most by the rule changes are scrum-halfs, and starting the season as Navan"s first choice number nine will be Mattson. The Kiwi - who comes from a place called Taranaki or 'the 'Naki" as it is known locally - is starting out on his second season in the Leinster League Div 1 with the Balreask Old outfit. He"s still getting accustomed to the weather in Ireland, but overall likes it here. He"s confidently predicting that this will be 'Navan"s year'. He feels the required experience and talent is in the squad and with the right bounce of the ball the league success that has proved so elusive could be theirs. Navan have bolstered their squad with some additions including Alan Hickey who has returned to the fold after a few seasons away. Mattson picked up a Provincial Towns" Cup and All-Ireland Junior Cup medal in his first campaign. It was an impressive haul. That was then, this is now and on Saturday Navan take on Wicklow in their first league encounter of the season. Mattson has a slight advantage on the vast majority of scrum-halfs in Ireland. He has already got a taste of the new laws when he played in Australia a few years ago. It was Down Under that he met Brad Harris who later became Navan coach and eventually asked Mattson to join in the adventure in faraway Ireland. Mattson says that he didn"t have much time to adjust to the new rules when he was in Australia. Over the past few weeks he has had a better opportunity to gauge their impact in a series of games in the Leinster League Cup. He feels that scrum-halfs will be under considerably more pressure. 'Quick ball will be the only way to go under these rules. 'There"s obviously a lot less protection for us and because of that there"s a little bit more pressure. You can"t get too far away from the number eight in the scrums, you have to be quicker on the feet,' he said. The Kiwi says that he will also have to exercise his vocal chords a lot more during games. 'I will have to become a lot more vocal, they say the scrum-half is the eyes and ears of the forward pack as well as his job of communicating with the backs. I"ll need to be more vocal this season, but I feel a lot fitter. I"m looking forward to it.' Navan"s biggest challenge this time around is translating their scintillating, gritty performances in the knock-out competitions to their league programme. Pre-season performances against Blackrock College and Suttonians suggest that they are on the right track. However, all the detailed preparations and careful planning can go out the window on a dreary, wet afternoon in places like Portlaoise and Skerries. As part of their preparations Navan spent a weekend in a lakeside scout camp in the midlands living out of tents for a few nights. Going on runs of up to 13 kilometres sounded more boot camp than scout camp yet Mattson says that little trips like that helps to foster an already formidable, team-spirit. It is that type of 'family spirit' he says that can carry Navan past the challenges that awaits them in the coming months. Getting accustomed to the ELVs is just another obstacle to be overcome for the boys from Balreask Old as they once more go in search of a league crown.