The 2020 Central West Rugby Union season will be like nothing before and chief executive Matt Tink believes it will make each of the premiership races even more memorable.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tink released the draws for the premier Blowes Clothing Cup competition, New Holland Cup, and the two Oilsplus Cup competitions on Friday.
All competitions will kick-off on July 18 while the same is expected of the colts and women's competitions, with those fixtures expected to be finalised next week.
Twenty-five of the region's 28 clubs will take part and that, to Tink, is proof the health of rugby in the Central West.
"It's incredibly satisfying and rewarding because rugby might not always get the best media attention at the top level but at the community level that spirit and camaraderie is alive and well," he said.
"We're going to be playing into late August and September and it's spring-time rugby. The weather will be great, it will be that bit lighter later and it will be a great family event."
It's incredibly satisfying and rewarding because rugby might not always get the best media attention at the top level but at the community level that spirit and camaraderie is alive and well
- Central West Rugby Union chief executive Matt Tink
The Blowes Clothing Cup and New Holland Agriculture Cup grand finals will be played on September 26 while the Oilsplus Cup and Oilsplus South West Cup will both have their decider days on September 12.
There's been countless meetings with clubs in recent months and plans have had to be modified or scrapped altogether as restrictions have changed.
Tink has been most proud of the flexibility and willingness of clubs to get on the park.
"Many clubs made a lot of sacrifices," Tink said.
"It won't be perfect but this is better than no rugby at all.
"All competitions are wide open."
The Blowes Clothing Cup's five sides will play for a top four spot before semi-finals on the weekend of September 19.
It will be a different set-up in the New Holland Cup as the five sides there - CSU Bathurst, Narromine Gorillas, Dubbo Rhinos, Parkes Boars, and Mudgee Wombats - play each other home and away before the top two sides on the ladder automatically go through to the grand final.
Both the Olisplus Cup and Oilsplus South West Cup will feature seven rounds with the top four going through to semis on the weekend of September 5.