Speak to any of the Shute Shield coaches and Warringah keeps coming up when the subject moves, somewhat guardedly, to premiership contenders.

Of course Sydney Uni is a constant in that area but the Rats, they say, have the tools to negotiate the vagaries of this year’s Covid-19 competition and then win at the back end when a lot of the Super Rugby stock is at hand.

They were oh so close in 2019 and will be missing a few from that campaign including lock Sam Thomson and skipper Hamish Angus but the weight of the will at Rat Park is there.

Rugby News caught up with new head coach MIKE RUTHVEN to mull over the past couple of months and the season that is looming fast.