After making the decision to build the club from the ground up, the Glen Innes Elks spent 2018 in the New England Rugby Union third grade competition.
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It took a while but the Elks put in a series of promising performances towards the back end of the year.
The Elks will remain in third grade for 2019 and vice-president, and coach, Sam Price is optimistic about their chances.
If we win some games that is awesome but as long as we are competitive.
- Sam Price
"Most of the guys that finished the season for us last year were all very keen to play," he said.
"It is a bit difficult for us early in the year just based on touch and cricket and all those sort of things.
"Sometimes it is a little bit difficult to judge where we are at but I am pretty confident we are going to be able to field a decent side every week."
As was the focus in 2018, the Elks main aim is to enjoy the sport and winning would be a bonus.
"We are really just concentrating on building the club back up and getting guys to come and play for us because they enjoy it and have a good time," Price said.
"If we win some games that is awesome but as long as we are competitive.
"As much as I would love to win every game, that is not really the priority for us at the moment.
"We really just want to build the club from the ground up and get that club spirit back there."
Although numbers aren't huge in the early stages of the pre-season preparation, Price believes much of the team from last year will return.
"Cricket finishes the week before rugby so we never know how we are going to look until that first game," he said.
"Henry Burridge won't be playing this year, his thoughts are closer to retirement.
"He got injured early last year and he was just not happy with his recovery on it so he won't be playing which is a big loss for us as a club."