The Far North Coast Rugby Union Competition kicks off on Saturday, with the Lismore Rugby Club heading east to take on the Wollongbar Alstonville Pioneers.

With a new look team, the Lismore side will be looking to get their season off to a strong start after a lean couple of years.

The club has grown significantly in numbers and has had success in Colts and Women's Competitions, but First and Second Grade have struggled in recent seasons.

They will take on a Pioneers side with plenty of familiar faces and plenty of success of late.

Lismore have named a young side, with Kane Lawson at prop who comes across from Casino, Tate Bailey returns to the club and Tyler Coveney will captain the side.

Club juniors, Charlie Clarke has been named at 10 with Gus Leju named on the wing.

Former backrower Angus McDougall has been named at halfback for the clash.

The First Grade competition has a different look in 2023, with Bangalow and Byron Bay amalgamating to form the Byron Shire Rebels, who will start their new chapter with an away game against Ballina.

The Casino Bulls return to the First Grade competition and former powerhouse Lennox Head have dropped out of the top grade after struggling for numbers at the start of the season.

FIRST GRADE TEAM LISTS

ROUND ONE 15th APRIL 2023

FAR NORTH COAST RUGBY UNION

Ballina: 1. Stan Lolohea, 2. Jack Reynolds, 3. Brett Johnston, 4. Steven Paskins, 5. Kye Cribb, 6. Harry Bungate (c), 7. Wilson Lovokuro, 8. Emosi Tabusili, 9. Mark Pitt, 10. Nick Watson, 11. Lachlan Johnson, 12. Anthony Lolohea (c), 13. Tupou Lolohea,14. Reuben Saric, 15. Cory Sargent

Coach: Karl Lupton 

Manager: Brad Hilyard

V

Byron Shire Rebels: 1. Jordan Elliott, 2. Gavin McGonagle (c), 3. Robert Taylor, 4. Will Aisake, 5. Robert Wightman, 6. Angus Wilbourne, 7. Darcy Woods, 8. Benji Clarke, 9. Otis Floyd, 10. Joseph Carey, 11. Sam Reid, 12. Sol Hyde, 13. Dominic Tydeman, 14. Ben Mitchell, 15. Will Latham (c)

Coach: Troy Doughty, James Boysons

Manager: Eddy Brown

Referee: Louis Trisley

Wollongbar Alstonville: 1. Cory Townsend, 2. Austin Markwort, 3. Benji Tiatia, 4. Matt Scott, 5. Ewen McQueen, 6. Tarj Bennett, 7. Brendan Williams, 8. Hamish Mould, 9. Louis Hollman, 10. Ben Damen (c), 11. Sam Kerry, 12. Dan Damen, 13. Rory Collings, 14. James Vidler, 15. Bodi Smith

Coach: Bill Johnston

Manager: Anthony Drew

V

Lismore: 1. Kane Lawson, 2. Tate Bailey, 3. Jathan Von Bratt, 4. Mitchell Cox, 5. Mitchell Aquilina-Brown, 6. Calijah Craig, 7. Tyler Coveney (c), 8. Xavier Tiseni, 9. Angus McDougall, 10. Charlie Clarke, 11. Atticus Hanney, 12. Adam Rodd, 13. Mathew Buinisaqa, 14. Augustine Leju, 15. TBA

Coach: John Jenkins

Manager: Lewis Ireland

Referee: Matt Clayton

Casuarina Beach: 1. Daniel Chugg, 2. Jem MacDonald, 3. Daniel Tilton, 4. Tom Tanner, 5. Mitch Planten, 6. Liam Marcus, 7. Zac Hanna, 8. Oliver Miller, 9. Oscar Sims, 10. Sam Harrison, 11. Lachlan Stacey, 12 Jarred Broadhurst, 13. Jesse Kemp, 14. Webb Lillis, 15. Jesse Grey

Coach: Graham Dodge

Manager: Stephen Lowndes

V

Casino: 1. Anthony Butta, 2. Ben Collison (c), 3. Nathan Davy, 4. Ethan Synott, 5. Cameron Davis, 6. Jack Campbell, 7. Joseph Brooks, 8. Lachlan Newman, 9. Zach Norris, 10. Bradon Gumbleton, 11. Kalen Olive, 12. Bryce Spencer, 13. Osea Baleiyasavu, 14. Jerome Sparke, 15. Jayden Torrens

Coach: Doug Murray

Manager: Andrew Gulliver

Referee: Richard Goswell