AFTER joining forces last season to take on New England’s best, the Coffs Harbour Snappers and SCU Marlins will renew their rivalry playing against each other this upcoming season.

The Snappers and Marlins combined to form the Harbour Knights in 2020 as the new club competed in the New England Rugby Union competition.

Now the two clubs will play off again in this year’s Upper Mid North Coast Rugby Union season which kicks off on 24 April.

Joining the Snappers and Marlins in the six team competition are the Bowraville Goannas, Kempsey Cannonballs, Hastings Valley Vikings and Port Macquarie Pirates.

Mid North Coast Rugby released the draw for it’s upcoming 2021 season, with the season to kick off on Saturday, 24 April.

The finals series begin on 14 August with the grand final to be decided on 28 August.

The opening round sees the Coffs Harbour Snappers at home against the Bowraville Goannas, while the SCU Marlins travel to take on the Kempsey Cannonballs.

The Snappers and Marlins play off in their first local derby of the year during Round 2 on 1 May, and then meet again in Round 7 on 5 June.

Their third meeting of the season takes place on 17 July.

The Snappers and Hastings Valley Vikings meet in their 2019 grand final rematch during Round 4 on 15 May at Coffs Rugby Park.

The Upper Mid North Coast Rugby Union season is set to feature a number of competitions, including Senior Mens 1st and 2nd Grade, 10 a-side Women’s, and Under 14’s, Under 16’s and Under 18’s competitions.

MNC Junior Rugby will hold Friday night competitions in both Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie for boys and girls Under 8’s, Under 10’s, Under 12’s.

A Junior girls 7’s competition will also commence this year for girls 13 and older.

The BDC Barracudas will also make their debut in the Under 14’s and 16’s competitions.

The format and age groups will be finalised once registrations have been received.

 

By Aiden BURGESS