That fine layer of pitch dirt has no sooner dried on to boots over May and June than it’s time for Helensburgh’s rugby players to dust them down in preparation for the new season.

The off-season in Scottish sport is getting shorter than Bojo’s new haircut, but needs must – the new season looms but a mere eight weeks away, and summer holidays have to be run out of stodgy legs and podgy bellies.

Helensburgh RFC’s pre-season training will begin on Tuesday, July 2 at 7pm sharp at Ardencaple, and continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the proper stuff starts.

All that said, if you are new to the town, or have thought about giving rugby a try before but never crossed the whitewash, or if you just happen to be a 6ft 5in behemoth intent on dishing out the hits, Helensburgh would welcome you with open arms.

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For despite using an astonishing number of players last season – for a club with only one team! – injuries and availability always play a detrimental part in any season.

So, whatever your position, whatever your experience, pop down to Ardencaple if you can - the club guarantees a warm welcome.

Both coach David Calderwood and captain Cammy Kerr return to lead this season’s tilt at the title, offering the kind of consistency vital to a club in its re-building stage – as the Grizzlies undoubtedly are.

Ambitious? Yes, but Burgh largely proved last season that they could live with most teams in West League Division Two, and that with a callow but hugely promising bunch of lads emerging from Under-18 level.

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If the club ever seeks to get back to Division One – and beyond – then it’s going to need a little ambition.

But the trade-off for ambition, and winning matches, and enjoying the unforgettable feel-good factor of playing a brilliant game with your mates is simple – you have to commit.

That means committing to improving, to attending training, to being the best you can be, to going to training, to not letting your team-mates down last-minute, to training…can you see a theme developing here?

A team that trains together – consistently – wins games together. It’s been proven. At Helensburgh...many times. And like that Christmas puppy, remember: training is not just for July and August, it’s for the dark, dingy winter months too!

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So, dig out those boots, for heaven’s sake don’t eat anything before training, and get yourself down for pre-season up until the friendly matches kick things off.

Burgh start the season with a double-header against Dalziel in August – that isn’t all that far away now, and Helensburgh want to hit the ground running.