Far North Coast Rugby Union kicks off the 2025 season this weekend with a number of changes to the competition.

The First Grade competition will be contested by just 7 teams after the SCU Gold Rats, Evans River and Richmond Range, who all contested the 2024 season, will be playing in the President's Cup competition.

The seven team competition will mean that a bye is in place each week, with Lismore drawing the week off in Round 1.

It will give the Greens another week for their ground to dry after the remnants of Cyclone Alfred caused flooding to the ground and clubhouse.

In First Grade matches in the first round, Casino will host Wollongbar Alstonville (postponed), Ballina will travel to Casuarina and Lennox Head will host Byron Shire at Stan Payne Oval, Evans Head after their home ground undergoes resurfacing.

The SCU Gold Rats will head to Kyogle for their first match of the season with several new recruits after a solid intake of new students at the University.

The Gold Rats are looking for a big season in President's Cup with plans to return to First Grade next season.

In a positive sign, the Women's 10's competition will expand to 7 teams, with Kyogle, SCU and Ballina joining the 4 teams from the 2024 season.

The SCU Rattettes were to host Byron Shire at 1:00pm on Saturday at Maurie Ryan Oval in what has been a long return, after pioneering the sport on the FNC in the late 90's and early 2000's. Unfortunately, this match has been postponed due to the state of the grounds.

In other Women's matches, Casino will host Kyogle and Casuarina will face Ballina.

FNC Rugby Union

First Grade

Casino v Wollongbar Alstonville (postponed)

Casuarina v Ballina

Lennox v Byron Shire (Stan Payne Oval)

Lismore – Bye

Presidents Cup

Range v Yamba

Kyogle v SCU Gold Rats

Evans Head v Mullumbimby

Women’s 10’s

SCU v Byron Shire (postponed)

Casino v Kyogle

Casuarina v Ballina

Lismore – Bye

FAR NORTH COAST RUGBY UNION

Casuarina Beach: 1. Vincent Latailakepa, 2. Jem MacDonald, 3. Bruce Somerville, 4. James Monroe, 5 Daniel Kwon, 6. Will Harris, 7. Will Patterson, 8. Callum O’Shea, 9. Will Stacey, 10. Harry Hall, 11. Lachlan Stacey, 12. Webb Lillis, 13. Charlie Hoggard, 14. Jessy Kemp, 15. Kai George (c)

Coach: Geoff Townsend

Manager: Steve Harris

V

Ballina: 1. Stan Lolohea, 2. Nathan Groves, 3. Brett Johnston, 4. Lucas Aujames, 5. Harry Bungate, 6. Luke Kleise, 7. Andrew Burke, 8. Emmerson Bessell, 9. Stephen Paskins, 10. Elliott Bryers (c), 11. Emori Rairailevu, 12. Ants Lolohea, 13. Reuben Saric, 14. Jack Kindred, 15. Sam Giltrap

Coach: Michail Greenhalgh

Manager: Josh Magnus

Referee: Graham Cook

Casino: 1. Angus Langfield, 2. Jacob Dunn, 3. Sione Mata’afa, 4. Cory Townesend, 5. Cameron Davis (c), 6. Connor Frame, 7. Emil Latumahina, 8. Ezekiel Natanielu, 9. Graham Manus, 10. Stephen Murchie, 11. Patrick Hou, 12. Jeke Tupa, 13. Pochon Agovaua, 14. Letti Drugutanalevu, 15. Epi Matanakilagi

Coaches: Doug Murray, Dan Rollinson

Manager: Andrew Gulliver

V

Wollongbar Alstonville: 1. Ewen McQueen, 2. Jackson Fraser, 3. Benji Tiatia, 4. Matt Scott, 5. Thomas Parker, 6. Joe Blyth, 7. Wilson Lovokuro, 8. Hamish Mould, 9. Louis Hollman, 10. Jarrod Wyllie, 11. Daniel Damen, 12. Ben Damen (c), 13. Rory Collings, 14. James Vidler, 15. Sam Kerry

Coaches: Bill Johnston, Andrew Ross

Manager: Chris Duley

Referee: Lachlan Duley

Lennox Head: v Byron Shire Rebels Match POSTPONED

Lismore – BYE