It’s hardly the ideal preparation for a World Cup, but it’s exactly the lead-up Bathurst Old Bulls rugby president Allan Spencer says his side can expect ahead of April’s Golden Oldies World Cup in Christchurch.

The Old Bulls wrapped up season 2017 on Saturday at Anne Ashwood Park with the annual Central West Old Boys Gala Day, eight sides making the trip to play in the competition.

Along with Spencer’s Old Bulls, the Orange Emulators, the Oatley Sown Oats, the Penrith Legless Emus, the Central Coast Seagulls, the Terry Hills Hillbillies, the Corrective Services Lions and the Newport Nasties all took part in the event.

“That was the end of our season and our first game next year is the World Cup in Christchurch in April,” Spencer said.

“Bathurst has gone to all of the World Cups since it started in 83.

“We’re one of the few sides that has done that.

“Bathurst is deemed NSW Country when we arrived. We could play America, Japan, Wales, you don’t know until you arrive.

“Drinking at the pub on a Friday night is about it,” he added when asked about training leading up to the Cup.

“It’s social first, then we play. There’s 23 members in the team, we meet once a month for a training run.”

Spencer said although the event is dubbed as Golden Oldies, he’s keen to try and help change that perception so that anyone over the age of 35 is aware they can play in the system, which caters from players aged 35 to 65.

“Basically, it’s Golden Oldies Rugby and that’s what the managing body is called,” he said.

“People think Golden Oldies is for old bludgers, but there’s guys that have finished grade that still want to have a run.”

He said Saturday’s carnival was a great success, but getting Sydney sides over the “sandstone curtain” was proving difficult.

The goal for future gala days is to get sides from Randwick and other big Sydney clubs to contest the day, with Golden Oldies rugby a massive part of club rugby in metro areas. 

“That’s what we attempted ... we’ll get there. We aim to get 15 to 20 teams,” he said.