WHEN Bathurst Bulldogs talent Peter Fitzsimmons last wore a Central West jersey, it was as a member of the Blue Bulls squad which took out the 2013 Richardson Shield at the New South Wales Country Rugby Championships.

Now he wants to emulate that effort.

Fitzsimmons is Bathurst’s sole representative in this year’s Central West Blue Bulls squad which will contest next month’s NSW Country Rugby Championships at Armidale.

He was not part of the 2014 Central West side which won the Caldwell Cup after earning promotion for claiming the Richardson Shield 12 months earlier.

Nor was Fitzsimmons a member of last year’s squad that failed to win a game at the Country Championships and as a result, was relegated to the second tier Richardson Shield for 2016.

But that absence has only made the talented Bulldog more determined to help the Blue Bulls return to the top echelon of country rugby in NSW.

His is hoping to be given the job as number 8, but has also played at openside flanker and could be used as a back up to specialist hooker, Orange Emus’ Tom Goolagong, at Armidale.

“It’s been good to be back in this team playing at this level with these guys. I think that we’ve got a really strong forward pack with plenty of pace in our back line,” he said.

“The coach has spoken to me already about being the reserve hooker. I’ve had experience there before with my junior rugby.”

Though it has been three years since Fitzsimmons last experienced playing for Central West, he has impressed at this level before. 

In 2012 he earned NSW Country Colts selection and the Bulldog is keen to test himself against some of the state’s best once more.

“Going to the country champs is always a good experience. The quality of players is just a big step up and the speed of the game is a lot quicker,” he said.

“With the team we’ve got and the experience of Col Jeffs as coach, we should do well up there. We’ve got a few weeks now to prepare and learn what we need to do. We’ve got a few country representatives in this side as well, so it should be strong.”

Though Fitzsimmons is the only Bathurst player in this year’s squad, it is an improvement on 2015 when none of the city’s talents made the final 25-man outfit.

Former CSU star turned Orange Emu Nick Hughes-Clapp has also been named.

Fitzsimmons and his Blue Bulls team-mates will begin their Richardson Shield campaign on May 7 against Mid North Coast.

CENTRAL WEST BLUE BULLS: Simon Badgery, Nick Hughes-Clapp, Tom Goolagong, Isaac White, Nas Havealeta, Andrew Cosgrove, Josh Ellice-Flint, Tom Green (Orange Emus), Jake Davis, Tom Nell (Orange City Lions), Riley Byrne, Dan Ryan (Parkes Boars), Benn Wright, John Korff, Filisione Pauta, Brad Pugh, Moa Kavaefiafi, Anthony Golding (Dubbo Kangaroos), George Quigley, John Ellis (Trangie Tigers), Peter Fitzsimmons (Bathurst Bulldogs), Chris Miller, Tom Dewhurst, Matt Spice (Cowra Eagles), Will Oldham (Molong Magpies).