A move away from the current home and away model was discussed at the annual general meeting on Sunday in order to accommodate more round games.

While another draw based on a 14-round home and away season was offered, the board suggested adding another two rounds to the season.

It would see teams split into two pools for the extra games.

They also suggested altering the current top five finals to a top six, but that change would see the finals series cut from four to three weeks.

SIRU rugby manager Mick McTaggart said the idea was based on extending the season and avoiding an even earlier finish to the season.

“I think it is time for a change,” McTaggart said.

“The board are looking at a compromise for if we where to have more rugby played.”

McTaggart said a number of clubs had suggested playing more games to elongate the season.

He thought the new proposal offered the best compromise.

“There was one club suggesting to play 21 rounds, but that is absolutely ridiculous,” he said.

“That is not smart in country rugby.

“My job is to look at compromises and see what we can come up with.”

Using the current home and away system, the season would start on April 7 with the grand final on August 18.

But he new proposal would see the competition start on the same date but end on August 25 instead.

McTaggart said the pools would be determined geographically to allow for more ‘local derby’ clashes.

In the offer Wagga City, Waratahs, Albury and Tumut would be in one pool while Ag College, CSU, Leeton and Griffith are in the other.

The first round would see Albury host Waratahs while Wagga City would travel to Tumut.

There would then be an all Wagga game the following week while Albury and Tumut would clash.

In the other pool CSU would travel to play Griffith while Leeton would host Ag College.

There would then be clash between the two university rivals while Leeton and Griffith would renew their strong rivalry.

McTaggart envisions the two rounds would kick start the competition before settling into the home and away season.

The top six finals format would mirror the Shute Shield.

In week one the minor premier would play the sixth placed team, two plays five and three and four clash.

The winners progress to the second week as does the highest ranked loser.

The grand final would see the winners of the week two games play off for the premiership.

The Shute Shield competition consists of 12 teams and Southern Inland only eight but McTaggart believes it works best for having an uneven draw.

“You can know say some teams may have got the rough end of the pineapple with those extras game they played,” he said.

“I’m trying to eliminate that (with the top six).

He doesn’t believe the current top five system is working after the dominant minor premiers from the last two seasons have only scraped to grand final wins.

The current draw has been in place for two seasons following the departure of Temora, Young and Cootamundra from the first grade competition.

Before then the competition split after the first 10 rounds to have a top tier and second tier.

McTaggart does not believe any draw will be locked in until the next board meeting on February 5 but believes clubs are not against the idea.