Central North is set to introduce a 'modified' colts competition next season as it desperately tries to boost numbers.
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Only eventual champions Bingara/Barraba, Pirates and Narrabri fielded colts sides in the just-completed season, and while returned president Tony Byrnes said there was some very good rugby played, a three-team competition isn't sustainable.
The big change is increasing the age from under-19s to under-20s.
"We've made a few extra conditions in there," Byrnes said.
"We're allowing under controlled conditions players under 23 to play in that competition, only if there's not enough under 20s."
The issue of dwindling numbers isn't a new one and the zone has made several attempts to try and arrest the decline but with not a lot of success.
They hope the age restructure, and the provision for older players to play if needed, will enable more clubs to field teams. It will also remove some of the overlap with the popular Friday night competition which goes up to under-18s.
Byrnes said not everyone was in favour of the change, with Bingara one club that expressed some concern, but the general consensus was to give the modified comp a try.
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He said the target is to increase the number of competing clubs to at least five for next season and then build from there, and spoke about needing to "work extra hard" to foster interest.
The change to the colts competition was one of the main things to come out of the recent zone AGM with Byrnes re-elected as president for a sixth term.
He will head an unchanged committee.
"I was a bit reluctant to walk away without a succession plan," he said.
"We just want to work towards a good transition towards a good president and secretary for 2021."
Along with the colts, he said there was a fair bit of discussion about the ongoing drought and the impact that might have, especially as water becomes an issue for many towns.
"We are concerned that grounds might be an issue," Byrnes said.
"We can't ignore it - it is a fact."
