Old boy back to put Wisbech through their paces
Wisbech old boy Darryl Veenendaal was back at his first club last week to coach the Harecroft Road side.
The professional player, who is also coaching with Championship side Ampthill, put the players through their pre-season paces, under the watchful eye of his dad, Wisbech director of rugby Leonard.
Darryl, whose brother De La Rey has skippered Wisbech, has been helping the club out on a consultation basis throughout his ten-year professional career and, having come through the club's junior section himself, still has many friends at the club.
"It's great to see so much excitement and so many boys here," he said. "Probably you wouldn't usually get these good numbers in pre-season but obviously people have had their rugby fix taken away from them in the last few months and they just want to get back on the field.
"There's a real mixed bag of players here. There's players that have played at a higher level, those that have come through from a lower level and lads who are still here in their thirties and forties after coming to the club aged eight or nine.
"There's people like Wessy (Gerhard Wessels) who could play at a much higher level and then those who like a game, a few beers and a social. It's just great to see people on a rugby pitch again."
Darryl hopes he may get back to do more coaching sessions as the season progresses, and added: "It's always good to be involved with my boyhood club, having started in the under-nines. I've got a lot from the club so it is good to come back here and give something back too."
