Hay will make a big leap into the Southern Inland first grade competition in 2020.
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They will also enter a women's team for the first time.
Hay have been playing in third grade for the past four seasons, but with desire to enter a women's team into the competition have decided the time is right to challenge themselves in the top grade.
It coincides with the club's 30th season.
Manning Doughty has been installed as the club's first grade coach and believes it is an exciting time for rugby union in Hay.
"It will be a big challenge and it's not going to be an easy run for us but we've got a girls team now, the Hay Cutlets, and to guarantee them a spot in the draw we had to step up into the top grade," Doughty said.
"We're looking forward to it.
"It should be good."
Hay are no strangers to success in Southern Inland, winning the title in 1998, but haven't fielded a first grade side for the better part of a decade.
Doughty admitted there is going to have to be a mindset change for many existing players at the club after enjoying plenty of success in lower grades.
He's just hoping the team can be competitive against their more established rivals.
"We don't ever go into a game with the plan to lose, but it is going to be tough for us," Doughty said.
"If we can be competitive with most clubs in our first year that is a realist goal.
"If we can be competitive than we will be happy."
Hay were minor premiers in third grade last season but failed to make the grand final after a massive injury toll late.
The club is already looking at avenues to attract more players, and those of a higher quality to the club.
Doughty hopes the anniversary season could also help boost numbers.
"We've got a bit of recruiting going on, a few new faces coming in and guys who were injured are coming back," he said.
"We've got a bit planned."
Hay played a number of non-competitive women's games last season and Doughty believes they can handle a larger commitment.
"They've got pretty good numbers and some very good players," he said.
"They are a young group of girls and are very keen."
Southern Inland rugby manager Jack Heffernan admitted there are concerns over the difference in standard for the Cutters.
However he believes the move works better for the club as whole.
"There are concerns but there have been a few requests from themselves and another third grade club (Deniliquin) to play higher level footy for a couple of years now and this is their best way to do it," Heffernan said.
"We're accommodating that in this way.
"Hay came to us and said they wanted to introduce their women's team properly in 2020 and we couldn't accommodate that in the draw without separating the women's team from the men's team each week unless another first grade team come in."
An introduction of a ninth first grade team has caused a big shift in the draw.
Originally there was going to be a 16-round season but it will now expand to unable a full home and away draw.
The competition will still start on April 4 and feature two general byes for Easter and Anzac Day in the first month.
General byes for the City v Country representative game as well as the Brumbies Provincial Tournament on the June long weekend remain meaning the final round will now be played on August 29.
The grand final will now be played on September 19.
The move still needs to be approved by the Southern Inland board but with plenty of discussions already Heffernan doesn't expect it will be an issue.
"There is no reason why they wouldn't and they have already discussed it a couple of times in 2019," Heffernan said.
"It shouldn't be a problem."
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