This year’s CSU first grade rugby coach will be part of one of 10 bouts on the December 6 card at Paddy’s Hotel, raising money for the Bathurst PCYC.

And it seems like the CSU and Bathurst Bulldogs rivalry won’t be limited to the football season – McLaren’s opponent will be the blue and gold’s reserve grade front-rower Sam Phiels.

“I was with Steve Ellery [who will also fight on the night] at the coffee shop one morning and he told me about the charity night and that it was for a good cause,” McLaren said.

“I’m really wondering why I said yes. It must have sounded like a good idea when I was tired on a Sunday morning. 

“Maybe I thought by saying yes it would encourage me to train a bit.”

The world of boxing is full of people willing to prove they are the best at what they do, who aren’t afraid to let their opponents know how much pain they’ll bring them.

McLaren is not one of those people.

“It’s going to be embarrassing,” he said.

“I’m a great boxing fan and have been all my life. When I had the newspaper it was one of the first parts of the sports section I’d look for.

“I was taken to a boxing lesson when I was about eight and I’d say that’s been about the extent of my experience in the sport.

“Former WBO flyweight champion Pat Clinton was also my babysitter when I was young, if that counts.”

McLaren said it might be time to put some more preparation into the bout.

“I’m always trying to do a little bit of practice, but I haven’t done much of late. I guess my 12-week program now has to get condensed into just 10 days,” he said.

“I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t have to meet any sort of weight requirement.

“I’m a bit worried that Sam is probably their secret Bulldogs boxing champion or something like that.”