After looking in serious doubt during the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, rugby will go ahead in Cootamundra from July 18 with the Cootamundra Tri Colours to take part in a seven round season Oilsplus South West Cup.
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The season proceeding gives the Cootamundra Tri Colours the opportunity to go back-to-back with the local side opening the 2020 season with a home game against Temora from 3.15pm on Saturday, July 18.
In other first round matches West Wyalong will host Condobolin Rams, Grenfell Panthers are home to the Boorowa Goldies and the Harden Red Devils will host Young Yabbies.
The 2020 competition will see seven rounds played with each team to meet once.
The Tri Colours will have just three home games this season, also hosting Harden and Condobolin.
Away games are scheduled against Young, West Wyalong, Boorowa and Grenfell.
Four teams will then play in a finals series with the semi finals to be played on September 5 and the two winners of the semi finals to go to the grand final to be held on September 12.
The women will also be back on the paddock with the draw yet to be finalised.
The Tri Colours are training at country Club Oval on Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm each week.
Central West Rugby Union chief executive Matt Tink believes the changed formats of the Blowes Clothing Cup, New Holland Cup and two Oilsplus Cup competitions will make each of the premiership races even more memorable this year.
Twenty-five of the region's 28 clubs will take part and that, to Tink, is proof the health of rugby.
"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."
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.
