There was a suggestion on the table to extend the season to 16 rounds, however the home and away draw of 14 rounds remains in place for 2018.

The board ratified the draw which will see the season start on April 7 and conclude with a grand final on August 18.

The finals will again be over four weekends.

Southern Inland rugby manager Mick McTaggart said there was little support from the clubs to extend the season by two week.

“If there was any hostility they (the clubs) had their chance to tell us their problem,” McTaggart said.

As such he recommended the board ratify the 14-round draw, which was agreed to.

It will now be the third year that Southern Inland has utilised a home and way draw with the eight teams in the competition.

They have previously split after the first round of matches to form a first and second tier, but that was before Young, Temora and Cootamundra left the competition after the 2015 season.

As the norm, there will be a two-week break for representative football in the middle of the year.

There will be no rounds of play on June 9 and 16 however it is Southern Inland’s turn to host the Brumbies Provincial Championships.

A format is yet to be determined.

From there the Brumbies Provincial team will play NSW Country Cockatoos with NSW Country to host this year.

The season kicks off with an all-Wagga blockbuster between Ag College and Waratahs at Beres Ellwood Oval.

Premiers Leeton travel to Albury, Wagga City will play host to Griffith.

The game between Tumut and CSU at Jarrah Oval completes the round.

The Phantoms play their first home game since claiming the title at Leeton No.1 Oval against Tumut in round two.

The first grand final rematch, between Leeton and Waratahs, is not until round six. Waratahs will host the premiers at Connolly Rugby Complex on May 12.