THEY'VE lost a "little warrior" in flyhalf Nick Plunkett and a premiership winning coach in Daniel Adamson, but CSU is still aiming big for season 2021.
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While it will officially be CSU's 51st season of rugby, given the COVID-19 pandemic meant the 50-year milestone was not properly celebrated in 2020, the students plan to do so this year.
The Bumblebee Ball will be held on May 1 and Old Boys Day is expected to draw plenty of former CSU talents.
Players in first and second grade plus the women's teams will still wear the special 50th anniversary jumpers this season as well.
New president Marcus Burrell, who takes over the role from Josh Buttenshaw, thinks it will act to motivate the players.
"Last year a lot of the celebrations were put on hold, when we were playing games we weren't allowed to celebrate after the game because of numbers, everyone was just in a big funnel of not knowing what was going on week-to-week," he said.
"There was that time one of the games was cancelled in Dubbo due to the weather ... so it was an up and down season, but I think this year will be a special year, having the ball this year will make it special."
Burrell will form part of the first XV line-up this season, the 2019 premiership winner set to be one of the most experienced players given the departure of last year's captain Plunkett.
But the president still expects a strong squad to be assembled. He also is keen to see the how the women's team, who will be without some members of last year's premiership side and departing coach Daniel Adamson, back up in 2021.
"I know we've lost Nick Plunkett, he's a big loss, he's moving to Sydney and has been our little warrior 10 for awhile," he said.
"But I think we'll be stronger in the forwards this year, I think we've got a few people coming along who will give us strength in the forwards, which is where I think we lacked against some of the clubs like Mudgee last year.
"I think the big push will be the girls won the premiership last year, we should get some good numbers out of that, a winning culture seems to bring people in.
"I know we are losing three or four girls as well and it will be a new coach as well. Daniel did an amazing job, but he's moved down to Sydney now, he's got a new job."
