Only four took part last season due to coronavirus concerns, with initial plans to expand to competition to nine teams before the health crisis.

Griffith pulled out of the season entirely, Ag College only had their premiership-winning women's team take part while Leeton and Albury fielded strong sides in the second grade competition.

All are expected to return to first grade in 2021.

However Hay have indicated they do not want to enter a first grade team into the competition and instead are looking to have a women's side and a second grade side.

It would see second grade expand to 10 teams in 2021 with Deniliquin also looking to play in the same grade as this season while there would be nine teams, including the winless Cutlets, in the women's competition.

Southern Inland rugby manager Jack Heffernan is confident they can make a draw to suit.

"We will have a competition bye, which is standard procedure for the June long weekend, and will have nine weeks either side of that for second grade and women's," Heffernan said.

"It will be something similar for first grade but will possibly look at having the rivalry and country round as we did in 2019 to help bolster that a little bit more."

Start and finish dates for an 18-week season are expected to be confirmed later this week.

Plans for third grade will be discussed closer to the start of the season to allow clubs to assess their numbers.

Clubs also confirmed how they believe games should be scheduled with women's to remain between first and second grade games.

A couple of new faces were added to the board for 2021.

Two-time Bill Castle Medal winner Liam Krautz and Sam McLeod are the new faces on the board with Tom Adamson and Marty Hogan stepping down.

Warwick Grant remains as Southern Inland president however Bart Challacombe has stepped into the seniors vice president role, replacing Hogan.

After a successful launch this year, SIRU 7s are set to be a permanent part of the calendar.

They will retain their place as a post-season event with dates yet to be confirmed.

"A lot of clubs feel sevens tournaments aren't really super beneficial to the 15s pre-season," Heffernan said.

"It is also a good opportunity to bring some players in from other sports as a bit of a recruitment tool, which we saw this year with some new faces.

"From what I can tell people like it in the post season."

The structure of the junior competition will also be altered.

It will be more in line with how the 2020 season transpired but with more clubs expected to take their place.

"The juniors are adjusting to smaller gala days, which we had to do this year with only the limited clubs," Heffernan said.

"It was really well received so we will only have one really big gala day next year and the rest will be smaller ones."

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