The Cutters will move from third grade to first grade next season in order to allow their women's team to enter the 10s competition.

Rival clubs are more than happy to accommodate their expanded involvement, which will see a nine-team first grade and women's competitions.

Griffith president Dan McGreal believes having another non-Wagga team will add to the bush rugby feel to the competition.

Albury counterpart Mick Raynes believes it is great for the code to expand.

"It will be great for the competition, great for Hay and there is no point us trying to second guess how competitive they may or may not be as it is on them to do most of the travel," Raynes said. "It's great for union and our team will be looking forward to it."

CSU president Ryan Giacca thought it was great to see the popularity of the women's game drive rugby union in Hay forward.

"We very much support them coming in, especially growing the women's comp as well," Giacca said.

"It is a very big growth area in the sport and I think it very positive."

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."

The introduction of a ninth first grade team has caused a big shift in the draw with the season expanding to enable 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 and the Brumbies Provincial Tournament on the June long weekend remain with the final round now on August 29 with the grand final on September 19.

With two club byes as well new Leeton president John Hill believes having a bye in the second half of the season is a good thing.

However Wagga City president Dan Ribot was concerned over how many weeks off players will have across all four grades.

"It makes it hard when you are competing against other sports as players just want to play," Ribot said. "That is where you lose players from your club or your code.

"We always find it hard after bye weekends as a club but it might be different if it is first grade and women and the guys can support those grades."

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