After not competing at last year's championships the Kookaburras are eager for a strong showing on home soil with Tamworth to host the tournament on the June Long weekend.

Oscar Hunt, Tim McDermott, Zac Newcombe, Darrell Morrison and Brad Swain have been selected in the squad which features a mix of old and new faces, and players from nine different clubs.

New Inverell coach Colin Mayes will coach the side with assistance from Gunnedah's Matt Hannay as forwards coach and a still to be announced backs coach. 

The squad will have their first training run at Moree on Saturday in conjunction with the Classic Wallabies v Central North Barbarians game.

It is promising to be a huge day at Weebolla Oval with junior and school games, and the Central North women's side tackling a Classic Wallaroos outfit as a curtain raiser to the men's match.

The silverware quest for the Kookaburras starts this weekend with the women's 7s side containing Gunnedah locals Bec Smyth, Sarah Stewart, Maddy Collison and Simone Lickorish contesting the Country Championships being played in Armidale.

Central North women's 7s squad: Lauren Nott (captain), Lucy Prudden, Daisy Robinson, Simone Lickorish, Bec Smyth, Lenikki Craigie, Chelsea Hancock, Miah O'Sullivan, Nicola Robinson, Sarah Stewart, Sarah Byrne, Maddy Collison.

Central North men's squad: Lachlan Smith, Angus Smith, James Gall, Jamie Sampson, Josh Walker, Mitchell Adams, Jordan Cosh (Moree); Bart Leach, Jack Shelton, Conrad Starr, Lewyn Rapana, Jackson Sharpe, Mitch Denning, Andrew Collins (Pirates); Will Turner, Sam Kahl, Daniel Kahl (Narrabri); Tom Nicol, Josh Whale, Harry Morrow, Doug McKillop (Scone); Oscar Hunt, Tim McDermott, Zac Newcombe, Darrell Morrison, Brad Swain (Gunnedah); Scott Houston, Steven Robson (Inverell); Henry Leslie, Sione Kamoto (Walcha); Andrew Webber, Rowan McGowan (Gwydir River Rats); Will Robinson (Barraba).