The 2024 Shute Shield season kicks off on Saturday and the team lists are in ahead of what could be a wet opening weekend.

We’ve taken a look at each side’s starting XV and provided some background on some of the new names and faces set to debut for each club this weekend.

Eastwood v Manly

Almost 18 months after suffering an ACL injury in Eastwood’s 2022 semi final loss, Harry Turner returns to the Shute Shield and will captain a young Eastwood side. 

Recruits Lachlan Frean (Norths), Julian Zissis (Souths), Michael Stringer (New Zealand), Angus Blackmore (Canberra) and Reece Tapine (Western Force) have all been named to start in round one. 

Manly have also named a number of recruits to start, including 27-year old Welsh lock Rory Bartle, a former Wales U20s player who spent last season at North Otago. He’ll line up next to former Highlanders squad member Sam Fischli, who moved to Australia following a stint in the MLR.

In the backs, former Western Force winger Byron Sharwood will also make his Marlins debut.

Eastwood (1-15)

Alex Pappalardo, Lachlan Frean, Dion Yazdani, Jack Parsons, Julian Zissis, Ratu Tuisese, Harry Turner, Jimmy Hokafonu, Tom Goddard, Harry Snook, Michael Stringer, Angus Blackmore, Reece Tapine, JL Bacon, Lucas Vass.

Manly (1-15)

Neori Nadruku, Aaron Blacklock, Maka Mafileo, Justin Mataele, Rory Bartle, Sam Fischli, Hunter Ward, Ben Gleeson, Ruan Du Plooy, Robbie McIntosh, Byron Sharwood, Angus Bell, Fraser Conway, Fraser Toohey, Ollie Horne.

Hunter v Randwick

Hunter have named former Tongan international Tau Koloamatangi alongside promising hooker Hamish Moore and Australian Schoolboy Bo Abra in an impressive starting front row.

Elsewhere, 21-year old Manawatu Turbo Elyjah Crosswell and Saoman A representative Asaeli Lehauli will link with Donny Freeman in the backrow.

Nine players return from Randwick’s grand final winning matchday 23 for the opening match of the 2024 season. 

Kurtley Beale will start at flyhalf while Waratah Triston Reilly has been named on the wing. Keep an eye out for young centre Jayden Blake who impressed last year in his first season of grade before getting injured mid season. 

Hunter (1-15)

Tau Koloamatangi, Hamish Moore, Bo Abra, Ben Wood, Rob Puli’uvea, Elyjah Crosswell, Donny Freeman, Asaeli Lehauli, Nick Murray, Nathan de Thierry, Deon Evans-Ao, Ueta Tufuga, Thomas Watson, Isaac Ulberg, Ethan Morgan.

Randwick (1-15)

Olly Adkins, Ben Sugars, Paulo Leleisiuao, Tom Nowlan, Angus Houston, Mitch Watts, Joel Ellis, Ben Houston, Tim Sippel, Kurtley Beale, Triston Reiley, Nick Chan, Jayden Blake, Christian Yassmin, James Hendren.

West Harbour v Eastern Suburbs

West Harbour coach Cam Treloar has named recruits Jordan Brown (MLR) and Micah Aish-Gillard (North Harbour) to partner in the second row for Saturday’s round one clash. In the backs, Waratahs outside back Vuate Karawalevu will start on the wing. 

Keep an eye out for Visi Vaohea at No.8 for the Pirates. Vaohea has been at Concord for years but dropped a ton of weight in preparation for a boxing fight late last year and is in the best shape of his career. 

At Easts, Ben Batger has named former Woodies Fabian Goodall and Harry Wilson in a backline featuring Waratahs squad members Jack Bowen and Mosese Tuipulotu. 

In the forwards, former Marlins lineout gun Harrison Mataele will start at lock, Great Britain Sevens forward Jamie Adamson will start at No.7 and former Southern Districts and Junior Wallabies backrower George Gibson will start at No.8. 

West Harbour (1-15)

Titi Sonny Satuala, Haitoni Hafoka, Vaotangi Mafi, Jordan Brown, Micah Aish-Gillard, Damien Fleming, Toby Adlington, Visiano Vaohea, Dion Spice, James Faiva, Vuate Karawalevu, Scott King, Taine Rush, Callum Sirker, Matthew Whelan.

Eastern Suburbs (1-15)

Faalelei Sione, Moli Sooaemalelagi, Vunipola Fifita, Ben Smith, Harrison Mataele, Josh Bokser, Jamie Adamson, George Gibson, Seb Strang, Jack Bowen, Calum Randle, Fabian Goodall, Mosese Tuipulotu, Cooper Whiteside, Harry Wilson.

Sydney Uni v Northern Suburbs

Former Wallaby Isi Naisarani is the big inclusion at No.8 in a Todd Louden coached Sydney Uni side that features five players from last year’s grand final winning second grade team. 

Impressive colts graduate Jack Matthews will start in the back three alongside Aussie 7s flyer Tim Clements. 

Norths have added just one new face to the Shoremen forward pack that fell just short in last year’s grand final, with Scottish lock Tom Smith set to start alongside Saxon Gilles – who takes Hugh Sinclair’s starting spot. 

In the backs, another Scot Roan Frostwick, who played with Warringah last year, will start at No.9. In the back three, former Welsh 7s back Carrick McDonough and Perth product Porikapa Tukaki will start alongside Matt Ryan. 

Sydney Uni (1-15)

Paddy Tagg, Ciaran Loh, Bradley Amituanai, Luke Ratcliff, Isaac Rumble, Angus Allen, Sam Allsopp, Isi Naisarani, Theo Strang, Sam Bignold, Josh Calvert, Eddie Poolman, Sione Taufui, Jack Matthews, Tim Clements. 

Northern Suburbs (1-15)

George Thornton, James Margan, Michael Scott, Saxon Gillies, Tom Smith, Boston Kerapa, Brodie Leber, Luke Gersekowski, Roan Frostwick, Jude Gibbs, Carrick McDonough, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, Porikapa Tukaki, Matt Ryan. 

Western Sydney v Gordon

Western Sydney will celebrate the life of Eric Tweedale on Saturday, following the passing of the former Wallaby late last year. 

The Two Blues have a number of new faces in their starting XV. Veteran Dan Faleafa will captain the side after returning to Australia from France. Backrowers Heremoni Nepo (Melbourne) and George Risale (Japan) will also start in the Two Blues’ forward pack. 

Elsewhere, North Otago centre Abel Magalogo joins a solid and fairly settled Western Sydney backline. 

Gordon have named prop Liam Usher to start in the front row. Usher played off the bench for Wests Bulldogs in the Queensland Premier Rugby grand final last year.

In the backs, former Warringah flyhalf Witika Rees-Hatu will play his first game for his new club, as will English fullback Will Kaye. 

Western Sydney (1-15)

Kaynan Siteine-Tua, David Meki, Airi Hunt, Dan Faleafa, Manasa Rokosuka, Marcel Faaofo, Heremoni Nepo, George Risale, Rilloy Suesue, Reece Suesue, Tailiki Nadredre, Abel Magalogo, Sitiveni Moceidreke, Nik,Vikena, Christian Papas. 

Gordon (1-15)

Liam Usher, Will Bremner, Oliver Hannan, Jack Margin, Cameron Wood, Hugh Margin, Tom Horan, Milan Basson, Sam Babb, Witika Rees-Hatu, Brandon Quinn, Barrie Karea, Kainoa Gudgeon, Oliver Arcus, Will Kaye. 

Southern Districts v Warringah

Southern Districts coach Joe Barakat has named a new look Rebels outfit for their opening round clash, although three of the new starters, hooker James Douglas, No.8 Liam Blyde and centre Lumafale Lualua all played together in Wellington.

The Rebels have also named two Irish locks in Mark O’Reilly and Sean Rigney.

Warringah have also unveiled a different looking starting XV. Former Two Blues’ Tonga Tangitau and Dane Terekia and Hunter No.8 Chlayton Frans will add size and aggression to the Rats’ pack.

While in the backs, North Harbour scrumhalf Ben Fuhiniu will partner former Randwick playmaker Coby Miln in the halves.

Zac Barnabas, second in last year’s Catchpole Medal, hasn’t been named.

Southern Districts (1-15)

Isaac Clark, James Douglas, Duke Nginingini, Mark O’Reilly, Sean Rigney, Victor Alofaki, Alan Fitzgerald, Phil Potgieter, Liam Blyde, William Thomas, Oscar Schmidt-Uili, Lumafale Lualua, Isaac Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Declan Mulcahy, Rihari Wilson.

Warringah (1-15)

Tonga Tangitau, Wes Thomas, Pat La Torraca, Sam Thomson, Dane Terekia, Charlie McKill, Rory Suttor, Chlayton Frans, Ben Fuhiniu, Coby Miln, Harvey Elms, Tyson Davis, Komiti Tuilagi, Ben Woollett, Ben Marr.