WITH the Lower Mid North Coast Rugby Union competition set to kick off this weekend, the Mid North Coast Rugby Union association has announced a range of player movements and a new club addition as players from the Upper Mid North competition look to get their rugby union fix.
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In a statement released by the association, several players from Kempsey and Hastings Valley are said to have registered to play with the Wauchope and Wallamba Rugby Clubs.
Kempsey's Jordan Byrne said himself and two others were making the switch to Wauchope for this season.
"Myself, Braydon Davis and Ruby Colling have all decided to keep playing rugby this year with the Wauchope club," he told the Argus.
For Jordan it'll certainly be weird pulling on a different jersey after playing for the Cannonballs since under 10's.
"It's a bit weird putting the shirt on for a club that I've previously played against but it doesn't really feel like I've left the Cannonballs because just like them there's a good club culture at Wauchope and some great guys to play footy with," he said.
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Wauchope will be playing their season opener this weekend against Manning River Ratz with first grade kicking off at 3pm in Wauchope. The Wallamba Bulls will play Old Bar Clams this weekend as well.
Mid North Coast Rugby Union has also announced the introduction of the Barbarian Hogs, a team set to play in the 2020 Lower Mid North Coast competition in place of Forster-Tuncurry Rugby Club.
In a statement released by the association, MNCRU Executive Officer, Bob Wilson, described the decision as a great outcome for the sport.
"This good for Rugby and a huge boost for the game on the MNC and a great opportunity for players and clubs to play for a different team and players in the LMNC competition," he stated.
"These players and team will be eligible to play in the finals series.
"These teams will not be stacked as previously advised and will be monitored, however they will be competitive and not cannon fodder."
The Hogs will be playing in a typical Barbarian style with players made up from different UMNC clubs.
Barbarians first game will be against Gloucester Cockies with their home ground to be the newly renovated Stuart Park in Port Macquarie.