Rugby Union: Chris Ale's 'big year' - engaged, turned 30 and now Newcastle Wildfires captain in Shute Shield return

The Toronto-based Ale will add another milestone to 2020 when he skippers the Newcastle Wildfires as they return to Sydney's Shute Shield competition for the first time in 21 years.

"It's a privilege. I'm quite humbled by it and grateful for the opportunity," Ale told the Newcastle Herald.

"I know all of the boys are pretty keen to show what Newcastle has to offer."

Ale will lead out the Wildfires against Randwick at Coogee Oval on Saturday.

The hooker, who has been part of four Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union premierships with Hamilton since 2013, previously played Shute Shield with Easts (2016) and Warringah (2017).

"It's going to be tough. It's a fast tempo game down there and guys have good skill sets. But we're not just there to make up the numbers," Ale said.

Wildfires coach Scott Coleman said he would feel somewhat "relieved" this weekend after a "monumental" effort getting the Shute Shield campaign "off the ground" at relatively short notice and amid uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I know our guys are jumping out of their skin to play. We've still got a lot of work to do with our structures and we're going to make mistakes, but we've just got to keep pushing, stay upbeat and encourage each other," he said. His main message before kick-off will be "enjoy the experience. And probably something the players came up with, which was 'stay in the fight' and never quit'."

Newcastle has one change to the 23-man squad named earlier this week with fullback Chad Northcott (work) now unavailable meaning Hayden Cole shifts from the wing and Caileb Gerrard comes up to the first XV.

The Wildfires squad, along with the colts, will catch a bus together to the state capital before having a "small team run to stretch the legs".

Randwick have scored the services of Australian rugby sevens representative Henry Hutchison with the Tokyo Olympics postponed 12 months.

Elsewhere in round one Novocastrian Nick Palmer will captain Norths against West Harbour, Warringah host Sydney University in a grand final replay, Gordon meet Easts, Parramatta visit Manly and Southern Districts tackle Eastwood. Fellow newcomers Penrith have the bye.

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