CSU will have to wait until round four for their first home game of the 2021 New Holland Cup season, but when they do it promises to be an epic day at University Oval.
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Not only will CSU host defending premiers Parkes on May 1, but they will have a legion of former players there at 'the Zoo' to watch ahead of the Bumblebee Ball to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary that evening.
"That's our old boys day, our biggest event of the year, we're expecting around 500 people to be there for the day. It will be a massive weekend for us," CSU president Marcus Burrell said.
Before the round four meeting with the Boars, CSU opens its campaign with an away trip to Narromine on April 10. That will be followed with a bye then meeting the Rhinos in Dubbo.
"The draw, Tinky [Matt Tink] did a really good job with the draw, it's one of the toughest jobs in the Central West to be honest," he said. "We probably got one of the toughest draws we've had in the past couple of years because we open it with two away trips and a bye.
"It's a good draw even though it's a hard draw. We do have three byes, but we've accepted that fate as well."
It may be a tough start to the season, but that hasn't stopped Burrell from thinking big when it comes to CSU's goals for 2021.
He'd not only love to see the first XV make it two premierships in the space of three seasons, but he also hopes to see the women make it back-to-back finals and second grade hoist a trophy as well.
In order to do that, Burrell hopes to see not just university students pull on a CSU jumper in 2021, but other rugby talents living in Bathurst.
"Last year was a very good season for us and we're just trying to build now and hopefully get all three grades a premiership to be honest," he said.
"The thing we're trying to get across now is that we're not just a university club, a few of the people we are hopeful of bringing in this season aren't uni students, you don't need to be a uni student to come and play for us.
"So if anyone is out there that wants to have a run around, we're the club to do it with because we're a friendly bunch, we like a beer after the game - footy, fun and friends is what we're all about."
As for the coaching staff, CSU has locked in mentors for all roles save the first grade job.
"Pete Koen is looking to jump into more of a skills and management role which is good because his knowledge is second to none, having him at the club, it's been a real pleasure to have him there," Burrell said.
"Mark Campbell, he's probably going to take the reins in second grade again, he's been there for the pre-season, he's there week-in, week-out, he's a very committed man. We are lucky to have him as well.
"Peter Plunkett will be taking over from Flash [Daniel Adamson] to coach the women's side.
"I think for the girls, it's a good opportunity because Pete knows his skills with rugby and I think he can break it down to the basics for them, we get a lot of girls who haven't played before."
