By MARK CASHMAN

Rookie Waratahs scrum half Jack Grant has been named in the No.9 jersey for Eastern Suburbs for the Round One Charter Hall Shute Shield clash against Southern Districts at Woolahara Oval on Saturday.

Grant, last year’s skipper at the Beasties, picked up a full-time contract at Daceyville in the off-season and made a great fist of his chance when Jake Gordon was struck down by a high ankle sprain in the first week of Super Rugby AU.

But all the time he has been a constant at Woollahra away from his time with the Tahs, helping out where he can and doing extras with a group of emerging scum halves.

He will team with one of the club’s major off-season acquisitions in Rohan Saifoloi, who should fit nicely into the No.10 jersey.

Pauli Taumoepeau’s side is spotted with a couple of Two Blues players from last season in prop Kalafi Pongi and Tuitakau Kiao who walked in the door during pre-season looking for a change of scene and a chance.

Charlie Gamble, who is in the wider Waratahs squad and has had some time on the field for the Tahs this year, has been selected at No.8 in what is an impressive and mobile back row.

Souths will be steered around the field by Fred Dorrough who has played at Randwick and Warringah in recent season.

Christian Kagiassis will be there on one of the wings ready for opportunities in attack and from the boot while all eyes will be on young Kiwi backrower Josh Bokser and the lock Cody Roman.

Defending premiers Gordon have handed the keys to a halves combination looking to impress in Jacob Abel and Reece MacDonald.

Abel and MacDonald played in the shadow of Harrison Goddard and Rodney Iona last year and looked to have something about them in the Australian Club Championship match against Easts Brisbane.

MacDonald is a completely different No.10 to Iona and it will be interesting to see how he develops as the season rolls out.

At Randwick Chris Eves, a prop with extensive Super Rugby experience in New Zealand, has been named at loose head for the Wicks game against West Harbour.

Ben Donaldson gets first crack at the flyhalf and he will team with Mitch Short.

Chris Bell has been named at flyhalf for Eastwood’s game against the Two Blues with Harry Wilson, the son of Wallabies great David, will wear the No.15 jersey in a very solid looking outfit.

Northern Suburbs have named a side with a very familiar look with Harry Burey and Nathan Russell in the centres but they have welcomed the speed of James Turner (formerly at West Harbour in 2020) on the wing.

At Sydney Uni backrower Jack McCalman will lead the Students when they host the Hunter Wildfires at Uni on Saturday.

The Wildfires, who have been very active on the recruitment front in the off-season, have announced centre Carl Manu as their skipper in 2021.

The teams for Round One:

EASTERN SUBURBS V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS at Woollahra Oval

EASTERN SUBURBS (1-15):

Faalelei Sione, Moli Sooaemalelagi, Kalafi Pongi, Jack Digby ©, Tuitakau Kiao, Dean Oakman-Hunt, James Donato, Charlie Gamble, Jack Grant, Rohan Saifoloi, Blake Rixon, Nicholas Jooste, Sam Fogarty, Clay Uyen, Daniel Donato.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (1-15):

Andrew Tuala, Joe Cotton, Conor Young, Isoa Nasilasila, Cody Roman, Josh Bokser, Angus Allen, Phil Potgieter, Carlos Price, Fred Dorrough, Christian Kagiassis, Josh Tangitau, Brad Armstrong, Ryan Menzies, Liam Moseley.

MANLY V GORDON at Manly Oval

MANLY (1-15):

Sio Tatola, James Hilterbrand, Conor Davidson, Byron Leach, Manaia Koko, Hunter Ward, Tevin Ferris, George Noa, Harry Emery, Ollie Horne, Komiti Tuilangi, Harley Attwater, Dennis Pili-Gaitau, Justin Tavae, Te Raina Richards-Coxshead

GORDON (1-15):

Brandon Faave-Eli, Will Bremner, Mokani Fuavao, Jack Margin, Ola Tauelangi, James Lough, Tom Silk, Jordan Goddard, Jacob Abel, Reece MacDonald, Alesani Pohla, Ellis Abrahams, Lucas Price, Mike Pavlakis, Ben Pollack.

SYDNEY UNI V HUNTER WILDFIRES at Sydney Uni No.2 Oval

SYDNEY UNI (1-15):

Tom Osborne, Declan Moore, Matt Sandell, Vili Cocker, Luke Ratcliff, Nicholas, Champion De Crespignay, Jack McCalman ©, Josh Schwager, Henry Robertson, Ben Hughes, Will Goddard, Eddie Poolman, Henry Clunies-Ross, Nathaniel Tamwoy, Tim Clements.

HUNTER WILDFIRES (1-15):

David Puchert, Chris Ale, Faavae Sila, Ngaruhe Jones, Sam Leibeziet, Steve Lamont, Tuietei Asi, Kirk Tufuga, Leon FukoFuka, Brendon Holliday, Abel Atunasia, Carl Manu, Nate De Thierry, William Lewesi, William Feeney.

WEST HARBOUR V RANDWICK at Drummoyne Oval

WEST HARBOUR (1-15):

Sonny Satuala ©, Sione Maafi, Cam Betham, Jordan Sharp, Otto Wendt, Kaliova Nacina, Shaun Dixon, Damien Flemming, Isaiah Leota, Pat Pellegrini, Melcolm Kilifi, Chris Ebeling, Faiva Faiva, Toti Mafi, Kodie Drury-Hawkins.

RANDWICK (1-15):

Chris Eves, Dave Vea, Wayne Borsac, Tom Piroddi, Michael Wood, Ben Housten, Tom Serhon, Jamie Rickward, Mitch Short, Ben Donaldson, Jackson Mohi, Kristian Jensen, Dan O’Brien, Christian Yassmin, Zac Carr.

EASTWOOD V WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES

EASTWOOD (1-15):

Willie Leoso, Max Stewart, Rhys Sheriff, Charles Granger, Charlie Cale, Michael Icely, Tom Murphy, Sione Tau, Matt Gonzalez, Chris Bell, Lachlan Shelley, Enoka Muliufi, Devan Stolz, Fabian Goodall, Harry Wilson.

TWO BLUES (1-15):

Nick Blacklock, Josh Have, Paea Aholeilei, John Akauola Laula, Allen Rathburn, Riley Jacobson, George Prain, Tevita Vea, Sam Babb, Rory Garrett, Api Bera, Phil Pale, Theo Steffany, Saiyasi Ikanidrodo, Conor McEldowny.

PENRITH V NORTHERN SUBURBS at Nepean Rugby Park

PENRITH (1-15):

Ulese Talatoa, Ezekiel Seia, Jackson Clarke, Tofua Fifita, Timisi Charley, Mathew Faoagali, Andrew Fiagatusa, Willie Dusautoir Tooala, Joseph Faoagali, Elia Morisio, Solo Turuva, Kane Tuaine, Jale Seninawanwa, Steven Gibson, Mesake Tagituimua.

NORTHERN SUBURBS (1-15):

German Haefelli, James Margan, Deewald Dekkar, Jeremy Burrill, Declan Carroll, Brad Hemopo, Charlie Jeavon-Fellows, Heinrich Brendel, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Reece, Mau’u, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, James Turner, Max Burey.

WARRINGAH has the bye

IMAGE: KAREN WATSON