By MARK CASHMAN

We’re into Week One of the finals of the Shute Shield competition and the phone has been ringing hot with all the news and views from the greatest club competition in Australia. Here’s what we are hearing: 

For those of you not across the Shute Shield finals system with everything else that has been going on in this crazy, crazy world here’s my crack at explaining all the ins and outs.

In Week One of the Shute Shield, reserve grade and first colts Team 1 will play Team 6, Team 2 will play Team 5 and Team 3 will play Team 4.

The winners of each of these games will go through the grand final qualifying series on October 24 and 25 with the highest placed loser will also go through.

From there the highest winner will play the highest placed loser on one side of the draw. The other game will be the second highest placed winner against the other side that won in Week One.

The winners from Week Two then go through to have a crack at winning some silverware.

In third and fourth grade as well as second and third grade colts four teams will contest the semi-final series with Team 1 playing Team 4 and Team 2 taking on Team 3.

The winners from each of these contest will go on to the grand final the following week at Forshaw Rugby Park.

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Good to see that MIKE RUTHVEN is saddling up for another year coaching the first grade group at Warringah.

Continuity is a big thing in club footy and having a man of his experience around to oversee the transition that will happen with the retirement of SAM WARD, JOSH HOLMES, ROBERT KELLY and DAVE FELTSCHEER will be invaluable.

This year was not easy by any means for the Rats missing out on playing finals footy but towards the back end of this shortened competition they certainly hit their straps beating Norths in the last round.

‘Rivo’ made a number of big selection calls throughout the season, the biggest probably moving BEN MARR from fullback to flyhalf and that is a move that I feel will pay huge dividends in 2021.

The Rats are also on the lookout for a new general manager with GUY FRASER-HILLS finishing up in a couple of weeks time.

They are also on the lookout for the right person to head up their colts program and there are a number of other volunteer and coaching positions available. Get your details in by October 23.

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The exact form that the tournament will take is yet to be determined but the KIAMA SEVENS is all go for 2021.

The tournament is a great coming together of club footy in NSW at a pretty special spot on the NSW south coast and it’s great to see that tournament director MARK BRYANT has got the green light for next year.

Warringah beat West Harbour in the final of last year’s extravaganza and I am told that it will be held towards the end of February.

A number of announcements are expected over the coming weeks. Get behind it!

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It’s the little things in this game that count in these times so it was great to see the entire NORTHERN SUBURBS first grade squad stay on the field for the formalities that honoured the Rats big four retiring.

The game was tightly contested throughout and it was only a couple of slices of brilliance from JOSH HOLMES that got the home side ahead at the right end of the game.

Norths skipper HARRY BUREY spoke of his respect for HOLMES, skipper SAM WARD, ROB KELLY and DAVE FELTSCHEER in the formalities and even had a nice bottle red to gift to each of them.

I’m guessing it was some of the good stuff that ADAM ASHLEY COOPER, DREW MITCHELL and MATT GITEAU have been marketing under the BACKLINE label.

The celebrations continued on Sunday with a catch up with Gordon coach DARREN COLEMAN who formed lifelong bonds with them all through the tumultuous 2017 season.

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Heartiest congratulations to WARATAHS and TWO BLUES centre TEPAI MOEROA and his partner on the safe arrival of a son, TEPAI JUNIOR over the weekend.

Moeroa was called away from the Two Blues game against Sydney Uni on Saturday at Lidcombe Oval during the warm ups and he quickly headed to his partner’s side.

Week to week footy has helped him get in the swing of things after not getting too many chances at the Waratahs in their disrupted season.

Two Blues coach JOEL RIVERS reckons it would be a shame if he is forced to head back to rugby league when from his viewing of things he’s about to make some significant gains.

“We are all hoping he can stay in rugby and not be forced back to league,” Rivers said.

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The Jack Scott Cup grand final will be played at Forshaw Rugby Park this weekend and the game between Sydney Uni and Randwick will be well worth a look.

There’s a list of Wallaroos and Aussie sevens stars all turning out for both clubs and if you have seen the quality of the rugby that has been on show this season you won’t miss out.

Grace Hamilton, Emily Chancellor and Iliseva Batibasaga are amongst the stars for the Students while on the other side the Galloping Greens will call on the services of Shannon Parry, Arabella McKenzie and Georgina Friedrichs. 

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN / GORDON RUGBY