THEY may not have a fixture this weekend, but there is still a competitive atmosphere brewing within the Swindon College Old Boys camp.

Like the majority of the region’s clubs, Old Boys have a blank weekend, but they are putting their time away from the pitch to good use by holding their first annual brewing competition.

More than 35 ales, stouts, beers and ciders have been created by members of the club’s squads and coaching staff, and a winner will be crowned tomorrow afternoon at their clubhouse at the Pig on the Hill in Old Town.

More than 1,400 pints will be available to drink on the day, and while director of rugby Martin Peaple is hoping his players won’t get through all of them, he is looking forward to the event.

“This is just something that came about when a few of our guys started talking about some things we could do, and it has just grown from there really,” he said.

“It should be a great day, because some of the beers sound really good. There is certainly plenty of it but I very much doubt we will get through it all.”

Old Boys are one of Swindon’s more social rugby clubs, and Peaple is convinced the competition will help with team spirit.

He said: “Our club is, first and foremost, built on a group of mates who love playing rugby together, and it has grown from that.

“We like to do social things to help with team spirit up, and this will do that I am sure as the guys have been talking about it for a while.

“We have tried to keep this date free to allow it to take place, but I am sure there are some who wish they could be playing a game this week as well, but you can’t do everything.

“It is also the final day of the Six Nations and St Patrick’s Day too, so we will be watching all the games which I am sure will keep us entertained.”

There are already plans to make the competition an annual event, while some of the more tolerable beers could trickle their way into other areas of the club.

“I think it certainly would be something we are interested in doing every year, because we have the kit now and it would be nice to carry on making the beers.

“We hold barbecues and other events, while we also play in a fair few sevens competitions and things like that, so if we can get some of the beer along to events like that it would save us a bit of money.

“In the future we would like to have our own clubhouse, and if we could maybe we could serve it in there, we will have to see.”

The event at the Pig on Hill is running all day and the club has helped pay for a band to play in the main pub area. All are welcome.

The only local side in action are Cricklade, who travel to Melksham 2nds in Dorset & Wilts 2 North.