The Border rugby club has nominated to field a second grade men's side and a women's outfit for a shortened 2020 season, with a major focus on youth.

After ruling out a senior team and exploring the option of playing third grade, the Steamers have met in the middle and will contest the seconds competition.

President Mick Raynes has put the welcome mat out 17 to 20 year-old men and women wanting to try rugby to come along to the club.

"We put the word out to try and expand our numbers to put a first grade side in, but we just couldn't do it," he said.

"The club will concentrate solely this year on the development of women's rugby and the 17 to 20 years age group coming through.

"We're planning to give those younger players in our squad maximum game time.

"There will be a few first graders around them and a few pensioners, but we really want to give them good exposure.

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"We're excited by it because you don't really get the opportunity to focus on a particular age group or the women in any particular year. It always tends to be about first grade.

"This way we can put in a concentrated effort and a lot of our resources into supporting the future of the club.

"Ideally we'd like to have first and second grade and a women's side, but this is as close to a win-win as we can have."

SIRU is set to announce the draw early next week, but Raynes expects the second grade competition to be the strongest its been in some time.

"There's going to be no third grade comp, so at least in second grade you can get some old heads around the guys and it will be a good mix on the field," he added.

"I think most clubs will be doing something similar, so it could be some exciting times.

"What you'll end up with is a bunch of old forwards trying to catch a bunch of fast kids in the back line (laughs)."

Raynes revealed the women's matches will be the main games for clubs not in the first grade competition.

"It looks like second grade will play first and women will be the last game of the day," he said.

"It will be a great opportunity for the men to support the women's team because normally they're getting ready and warming up. It's a good switch in roles."