A local derby will highlight the opening round of Far North Coast Rugby Union on Saturday.

Lismore will host the SCU Gold Rats at Lismore Rugby Park in what is a different look for the FNC First Grade Competition.

A number of Presidents Cup clubs have returned to the top grade after a shakeup of the competition.

The Gold Rats, Richmond Range, Lennox Head and Evans River have all stepped up to boost the local competition after a number of lean years for the division.

SCU, Range and Lennox Head are all returning to the top grade after various lengths of time away.

Lismore have named five debutants in their side to take on the Rats, with forwards Mitch Fawcett, Andrew Jordan and Max Smith, halfback Cooper Cox and winger Augustine Leju all starting in the top grade for the first time.

The Greens will also have the experience of Tate Bailey, Ben Briggs and Angus MacDougall to lead the pack.

The Gold Rats will field a new look side under new coach Beth Whaanga. There will be plenty of experience in the SCU side with Mitch Bird and Kirk Taylor-Brown up front, Matt Anderson at halfback and Josh Wilson captaining the side.

Number 8 Xavier Teseni, and the centre pairing of Reshawn Brown and Murray Wade should provide plenty of entertainment.

First Grade will kick off at 3:15pm with the Reserve Grade match between Lismore and Mullumbimby starting at 1:50pm.

FIRST GRADE TEAM LISTS

ROUND ONE 27th APRIL 2024

Coopers FAR NORTH COAST RUGBY UNION

Ballina: 1. Stan Lolohea, 2. Nathan Groves, 3. Brett Johnston, 4. Esikia Macu, 5. Harry Bungate, 6. Gerald McLarnon, 7. Wilson Lovokuro, 8. Pierce Bryers, 9. Stephen Paskins, 10. Elliott Bryers (c), 11. Tupou Lolohea, 12. Anthony Lolohea, 13. Reuben Saric, 14. Nathaniel Hooper, 15. Jack Kindred

Coach: Michael Greenhalgh 

Manager: Josh Magnus

V

Richmond Range: 1. Reece Manning, 2. Blake Birmingham (c), 3. Duncan Ryan, 4. David Lane, 5. Jacob Lane, 6. Nicholas Furhmann, 7. Lachlan Thomas, 8. Hayden Pratt, 9. Alex Gibbon, 10. Matthew Sorrenti, 11. Brock King, 12. Bradon Gumbleton, 13. Paul Hewetson, 14. Joel Ryan, 15. James Pankhurst

Coach: Alex Gibbon

Manager: Shawn Butler

Referee: Rob Walker

Lismore: 1. Aggrey Leju, 2. Tate Bailey, 3. Mitchell Fawcett, 4. Ben Briggs, 5. Andrew Jordan, 6. Mitchell Cox, 7. Max Smith, 8. Angus MacDougall, 9. Cooper Cox, 10. Cody Johnston, 11. Brandan Hannigan, 12. Braeden Williams, 13. Adam Rodd, 14. Gus Leju, 15. Fraser Ruane

Coach: Angus MacDougall

Manager: Stephen Clark

V

SCU: 1. Mitch Bird, 2. Harry Rudder, 3. Kirk Taylor-Brown, 4. Josh Wilson (c), 5. Rogan Dickson, 6. Lachlan Wallace, 7. Lachlan Rogers, 8. Xavier Teseni, 9. Matt Anderson, 10. Tyrone Collison, 11. Jake Henry, 12. Reshawn Brown, 13. Murray Wade, 14. Cooper McDonald, 15. Darnell McLeod

Coach: Beth Whaanga

Manager: Tim Breen

Referee: Peter Campbell

Casuarina Beach: 1. Daniel Tilton, 2. Jem MacDonald, 3. Daniel Chugg, 4. Dan Raye (c), 5. Mason Duke, 6. Michael Bodnar, 7. Zac Hanna, 8. Mitch Planten, 9. Webb Lillis, 10. Zane Hanna, 11. Jesse Frier, 12. Jesse Kemp, 13. Levi Dangerfield, 14. Tewhiti Treanor, 15. Sam Verenki

Coach: Geoff Townsend 

Manager: Stephen Lowndes

V

Wollongbar Alstonville: 1. Ewen McQueen, 2. Nick Pennisi, 3. Benji Tiatia, 4. Matt Scott, 5. Lloyd Morgan, 6. Josh Galbraith, 7. Joe Blyth, 8. Hamish Mould, 9. Louis Hollman, 10. Ben Damen (c), 11. Bodi Smith, 12. Daniel Damen, 13. Matt Nean, 14. Connor Storck, 15. Sam Kerry

Coach: William Johnston

Manager: Chris Duley

Referee: Matt Clayton

Lennox Head: 1. Joseph Daley, 2. Ethan Jenkins, 3. Connor Blair, 4. Zayden Allen, 5. Brandon Charlton, 6. Brad McGoulrick, 7. Harry Cunynghame, 8. Hayden Blair, 9. Atzin Jacobson, 10. Marty McNamara, 11. Zac Alexander, 12. Nick Wilson, 13. Aidan Butler, 14. Sean Parry, 15. Rory Kershaw

Coach: Scott Jenkins

Manager: Tony Fisher

V

Evans River: 1. Will Ainsworth, 2. Connor Thornley, 3. Matthew Francis, 4. Max Pye, 5. Tama Williamson, 6. Oliver Mason, 7. J F Beytell, 8. Agustin Aversa, 9. Ben Morris, 10. Sam Morley, 11. James Fairweather, 12. Adam Armistead (c), 13. Zane Gaiter, 14. Jonathon Robinson, 15. Michael Miskle

Coach: Darren Winkler

Manager: Luke Cleaver

Referee: Will Palmer

Byron Shire Rebels: 1. Oisin Canney, 2. Ashton Sione, 3. Robert Taylor, 4. John Turagabeci, 5. Will Aisake, 6. Darcy Woods, 7. Angus Wilbourn, 8. Benji Clarke, 9. Jye Connochie, 10. Joel Little (c), 11. Darius Towers, 12. Oli Shakeshaft, 13 Joel Faulkner, 13. Aaron Borland, 15. Ben Mitchell

Coach: Ben MacDougall 

Manager: Eddy Brown

V

Casino: 1. Anthony Butta, 2. Robert MacKander, 3. Cameron Davis (c), 4. Cory Townesend, 5. Josh Fuller, 6. Connor Frame, 7. Hunter Ryan, 8. Harry Amey, 9. Ben Collison, 10. Jayden Torrens, 11. Jordan Robinson, 12. Bryce Spencer, 13. Joseph Brooks, 14. Harold Torrens, 15. Lenny Drugutanalevu

Coach: Doug Murray

Manager: Andrew Gulliver

Referee: Graham Cook