While the format of the four-team first grade competition has yet to be formalised, the date to finally start the season and the finishing point have been locked in.

With seven teams in both the second grade and women's competitions the grand final will be held on September 26.

It allows for one full round and a three-week final series.

However Southern Inland rugby manager Jack Heffernan revealed the remaining first grade clubs, Waratahs, Wagga City, CSU and Tumut will be given options.

"I have to work with the first grade clubs for what their draw looks like," Heffernan said. "Some clubs are asking for two rounds and some are asking for three rounds.

"I'm going to give them both options early this week to have to finalised by the end of the week."

If teams played each other three times the top two sides would go directly to the grand final.

In a two round competition, byes will be added to the draw to go with a longer finals format.

"With only four teams I think it makes sense they play each other three times then have a top two," Heffernan said.

With no third grade competition this year, second grade will be the first game of the day at 12.40pm.

Women's games will follow on at 2.05pm with first grade at 3pm.

While having only four teams commit to first grade, Heffernan isn't worried on what impact it could have on the competition.

Instead he's pleased to have a season going ahead.

"The clubs have been really good considering the circumstances they are all in," he said. "There is a pretty big financial burden on them at the moment with the lack of sponsorship coming through for a lot of them.

"Hopefully getting out there and playing is a big step forward for them and we definitely appreciate their efforts.

CSU are one of three clubs to have all three grades playing this season.

They've been rooted at or near the botttom of the ladder for the last four seasons struggling for numbers.

However president Ryan Giacca isn't worried about the number of clubs electing not to have a first grade side.

"We've been very fortunate and showing good numbers," Giacca said.

"We're definitely fielding firsts and seconds and the full women's team so we're very happy with how things have played out all things being considered."

Giacca believes it is up to individual clubs to weigh what is right for them.

However he revealed the club has better numbers at training now than they did prior to the COVID break.

He's hoping it will allow them to be more competitive and isn't concerned over the final length of the season

"We're just keen to play football so if they make it three rounds then we will play three rounds," Giacca said. "We've got a lot of guys and as our previous performances haven't been great we just want to get out on the field and play with some numbers for once."

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