Players going the distance for their new head coach
Fraser Watt takes charge of EK
East Kilbride Rugby Club have returned for pre-season – and a new manager will lead the charge to take them back to the National Leagues.
The Torrance House side were relegated last season under Allan Steel, and after three years at the helm Steel stood down from the role due to work commitments.
Steel will stay on as a coach at East Kilbride, but Fraser Watt has been handed the role of head coach as the team face up to life in West Region Division One.
Watt, who played at prop for Scottish Premiership sides Ayr and Currie, has been forced to retire after doctors advised him against playing on, following a number of concussions.
The 25-year-old, from Lindsayfield, took the squad through one of their first preseason sessions last week with the players’ aerobic fitness and strength put to the test at Calderglen.
And he is relishing the challenge of securing National rugby for the club this season.
Watt, who played at EK as a teenager, told the News: “This [coaching] is all very new to me, but I’m looking forward to it.
“Steely is still going to be around from time to time and Fraser Stott, who has so much history with the club having been head coach before, is also back on the coaching team, so their input is going to be invaluable.
“After seeing some specialists, I’ve had too many knocks over the years that it’s best I don’t continue.
“It’s disappointing, but the aim for me now is getting the team straight back up.
“I believe the boys are good No pain, no game enough to get promotion.”
Injuries cost East Kilbride dear last season as they won just six times in 22 games.
Long-term absentee Ian Brown, who was outstanding for EK in 2014/15, is back doing light training, however, Scott Aitken is expected to remain out until Christmas with the prop due to undergo surgery on a back injury.
Watt added: “Last season we had a lot of injuries and that really killed us.
“It wasn’t like we played terrible all season, there were just a lot of times when we were really light on numbers.
“There was nine or 10 key players out and that had a big impact, but now some of the guys are on the way back, so things are looking up.”
East Kilbride’s training schedule will intensify on Saturday, July 30 when they move up to three weekly training sessions.
The new league season will kick-off on Saturday, August 27.
It wasn’t like we played terrible all season, there were just a lot of times when we were really light on numbers