MURWILLUMBAH Gentlemen president, Nigel Beard, is excited about the gents' prospects in the Far North Coast Rugby Union's Village competition this season.

The eight-team competition, which kicks off this Saturday, is, as the name implies, for villages which can only field one senior side.

In their round one clash at Don Gully Oval, Kyogle, the Gentlemen take on the local Cockies in a match which should give Beard, fellow players and supporters a good indication of how their team will fare in 2011.

Beard though, is supremely confident that the Gentlemen will go mighty close to winning the premiership after finishing fifth of the eight starters in last year's race.

“Last year we had arguably the best pack of forwards in the competition and most certainly the best scrummaging outfit but we just didn't have the backs to capitalise on all the good work and possession the big fellas gave them,” Beard said.

“That won't be the case this time because we have managed to round up a lot of young backs who are blessed not only with plenty of speed but their fair share of ability too.”

Coach and prop, Phil Lees, is also thrilled by the big turn-out of players at training sessions in the lead-up to the opening round of the year.

“We've been getting just on 30 players turning up most training nights,” Lees said.

“You can't compete with just the full team plus a small handful of reserves.

“It is a long season and injuries, job commitments, weddings and such always take their toll on each week's starting line-ups, and therefore it is imperative that a team has a lot of depth to cover all contingencies.”

Kick-off is at 2.30pm.