The 2025 Shute Shield season kicks off this Saturday and there are plenty of new faces at most clubs named to play across the opening weekend.

Rugby News has looked deep through the team lists to provide some insight to all fans ahead of this weekend’s matches.

Manly v Northern Suburbs

Gun schoolboy Marshall Le Maitre will make his Shute Shield debut on Saturday for Norths. Le Maitre led Shore to a drought breaking GPS premiership last year and was a class above at underage level. 

Canberra Vikings teammates Baden Godfrey (No.8) and Seamus Smith (No.9) will also make their debut for the Shoremen. 

Manly have named former Newcastle Falcons flanker Marcus Tiffen and fellow Englishman Baryden Barrat to start in the Marlins’ backrow.

Manly’s backline looks fairly settled. Keep an eye out for talented youngster Kai Vincent on the wing, who was a standout for the Marlin’s in last year’s colts competition.

Manly (1-15)

Joe Foreman, Harry Fry, Maka Mafileo, Ethan Cutler, Justin Mataele, Hunter Ward, Marcus Tiffen, Baryden Barrat, Ruan Du Plooy, Robbie McIntosh, Kai Vincent, Angus Bell, Charlie Powell, Wilson Dulieu, Oliver Horne.

Northern Suburbs (1-15)

Antonio Corso, James Margan, Apolosi Ranawai, Jeremy Burrill, Tom Everard, Kieran Curran, Marshall Le Maitre, Baden Godfrey, Seamus Smith, Matt Ryan, Carrick McDonough, Josh Barr, Nathan Russell, Callum Sirker, Tom Bacon.

Southern Districts v Eastern Suburbs

New Southern Districts coach Scott Fava has named a new look side for his first match in charge. 

Lachie Frean returns to the Rebels after a stint at Eastwood and will pack down alongside his brother Oscar. Canadian international Mark Balaski will also make his Shute Shield debut in a backline led by gun fullback Isaac Kneepkens, who trained with the Force over summer. 

Just four players return from Easts’ grand final winning side for the Beasties’ round one trip to Forshaw. 

Reon Lowery, Josh Bokser, Cooper Whiteside and Chris Bell will play alongside former Chiefs squad member and prop Rob Cobb, Connacht backrower Ciaran Booth and a number of new faces. 

Southern Districts (1-15)

Jack Cesare, Lachlan Frean, Oscar Frean, Jonty Ravenhill, Taisson Lealaisalanoa, Mason Duke, Max Freeman, Isaac Fanueli, Landen Walker, Mark Balaski, Efan Edwards, Gavin Wood, Damien Faiane, Caleb Beams, Isaac Kneepkens

Eastern Suburbs (1-15)

Rob Cobb, Harvey McGregor, Reon Lowery, Josh Bokser, Jack Tougher Wells, Ciaran Booth, Nick Cross, George Gibson, Jonny Van der Velde, Sam Olver, Cooper Whiteside, Joe Wadman, Otto Serfontein, Joel Cobb, Chris Bell.

Hunter v Warringah

21-year old former Melbourne Rebels lock Daniel Maiava will make his Shute Shield debut for Hunter this weekend as he pushes for a return to professional rugby. Hooker Bruce Kaukia-Peterson is another talented newcomer. Kaukia-Peterson played for Wellington before a stint in the MLR. 

In the backs, flyhalf Conor Winchester is back in Australia after a season in the US and will partner Logan Love in the halves. Love is the younger brother of Hurricanes gun Ruben Love who made his All Blacks debut late last year. 

For Warringah, Sateki Latu returns after a season with Moana Pasifika and will partner exciting young prop Jaiden Christian, who has moved to Sydney from Brisbane. Former Souths skipper Phil Potgeiter and Wellington backrower Keelan Whitman are the other new faces in the Rats’ pack. 

In the backs, Archie Saunders will start on the wing after making his Super Rugby debut last weekend, while Lebron Naea will play his first match for Warringah after moving down from Wests Bulldogs in Brisbane. 

Hunter (1-15)

Bo Abra, Bruce Kaukia-Peterson, Lachlan Hodges, Kirk Tufuga, Daniel Maiava, Elyjah Crosswell, Donny Freeman, Phil Talaileva, Logan Love, Connor Winchester, Frankie Nowell, Ueta Tufuga, Veni Vahai, Elisapeta Alofipo, Nathan de Thierry.

Warringah (1-15)

Teki Latu, Wes Thomas, Jaiden Christian, Phil Potgieter, Chlayton Frans, Charlie McKill, Jake Barnabas, Keelan Whitman, Ben Fuhuniu, Coby Miln, Archie Saunders, Lebron Naea, Ben Woollett, Charlie Tupu, Ben Marr.

Eastwood v Randwick

Eastwood coach Dave Telfer has named Kiwi brothers Jayden and Nick Henderson to start at hooker and flanker respectively, while Australian U20s lock Jhy Legg will also make his Shute Shield debut. 

Brian Tuilagi, part of the famous Tuilagi rugby family, will start at No.8.

In the backs, Lachie Albert is back after a season in New Zealand and will link up with his former Southland teammate Cole Spinks. Issac Crowe, who was named the best player in the Canberra comp a few years back, will start at fullback. 

At Randwick, younger brothers Angus Houston and Jonny Chan replace Ben and Nick respectively who have both followed Steve Hoiles to the US. 

Promising hooker Oniti Finau will start in the No.2 jersey and James Hendren will wear the No.10 after playing mostly fullback in recent years. 

Eastwood (1-15)

Iain Carmichael, Jayden Henderson, Jackson Clarke, Lachlan Doheny, Jhy Legg, Daniel Stovold, Nick Henderson, Brian Tuilagi, Lachie Albert, Harry Snook, Cole Spinks, Michael Stringer, JL Bacon, Lachlan Shelley, Isaac Crowe.

Randwick (1-15)

Olly Adkins, Oniti Finau, Tu Poata, Mick Melia, Angus Houston, Jamie Rickward, Joel Ellis, Max Moore, Tim Sippel, James Hendren, Joe Browning, Jonny Chan, Hamish Comonte, Ethan Cusick, Gage Phillips.

West Harbour v Sydney Uni

West Harbour have named a new look starting side for Phil Blake’s first match as head coach, spearheaded by Waratahs recruit Ale Aho in the backrow. 

In the backs, experienced Kiwi utility Ambrose Curtis gets first crack at the No.13 jersey, alongside electric outside back Jiale Dawai.

Sydney Uni coach Todd Louden has named former Gordon forwards Cam Wood and Nathaniel Panozzo to start their first match at their new club alongside Waratahs Tom Lambert, Brad Amituana and Leafi Talatiana and last year’s rookie of the year Sam Allsopp.

In the backs, former Reds centre Shaun Anderson has moved to Sydney after performing well for GPS in the Brisbane competition for a number of years. Louden is also expecting big things from young outside back Benjy Joseland. 

West Harbour (1-15)

Dean Begetis, Rob Iramescu, Trent Luka, Liam Lord, Onehunga Havili Kaufusi, Ale Aho, Jarod Byrne, Sione Tau, Drew Sellers, Mike Dabulas, Santana Marshall, Jack Sheridan, Ambrose Curtis, Jiale Dawai, Cooper Hanson.

Sydney Uni (1-15)

Tom Lambert, Bryn Edwards, Brad Amituanai, Cam Wood, Nathaniel Panozzo, Leafi Talatiana, Sam Allsopp, Will Gibson, Austin Bell, Henry James, Jack Matthews, Harry Ascherl, Shaun Anderson, Benjy Joseland, James Kane.

Western Sydney v Gordon

Western Sydney have named a new look starting XV to face Gordon at Eric Tweedale Stadium. 

Prop Darius Mafileo is a former Manawatu Turbos forward who tore up the South Coast competition last year after moving to Australia. Cruise Dunster is another Kiwi recruit with a strong resume. 

In the backline, the Suesue brothers return alongside last year’s leading tryscorer Christian Papa. 

Keep an eye out for Kiwi fullback Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong who scored one of the tries of the New Zealand club rugby season for King County last year. 

Gordon coach Harry Fehily has named Tongan backrower Tevita Ahokovi in the No.6 jersey to face the Two Blues. Ahokovi came off the bench in Tests against Romania, USA and Georgia late last year. 

After leading Gordon to the first colts grand final last year, flyhalf Manus Bailey will also make his Shute Shield debut for the Stags. 

Western Sydney (1-15)

Ezekiel Seia, Ryan Connolly, Darius Mafileo, Paula Waqa, Cruise Dunster, Jayden Miller, Fionn Clifford, Tovo Faleafa, Rilloy Suesue, Reece Suesue, Tailiki Nadredre, Cam Scott, Cody Nordstrom, Christian Papa, Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong.

Gordon (1-15)

Liam Usher, Ryan Jackson, Tristan Fuli, Hugh Margin, Presley Tufuga, Tevita Ahokovi, Tom Horan, Milan Basson, Harry Emery, Manus Bailey, Brandon Quinn, Barrie Karea, James Armstrong, Oliver Arcus, Will Kaye.