After a successful first edition earlier this year, the pre-season competition will increase from six to 11 clubs in 2022.

Dubbo sides CYMS and Macquarie will return after playing this year and Forbes is also back.

The Magpies will be joined by southern rivals Parkes in the revamped competition while rivalries will also be renewed in Bathurst and Orange.

The season will be shorter than this year while the competition will feature a three-pool structure.

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Defending champions Bathurst St Pat's will be joined in the eastern pool by Bathurst Panthers, who make their Western under 21s debut, and Orange clubs CYMS and Hawks.

In the northern pool are Mudgee Dragons, the Macquarie Raiders, Dubbo CYMS and Coonamble Bears, while the western pool will have just three teams in Cowra Magpies, Parkes Spacemen and Forbes Magpies.

NSW Rugby League club and league support coordinator Dallas Booth said local derbies will provide the competition with a little extra spice.

"Group 10 is the area where we've picked up a few teams and the derbies had an extra bit of interest, that's for sure," he said.

"When the two Bathurst teams play, I'm sure it will be fairly closely contested."

Castlereagh League outfit Coonamble is the only team from outside Group 10 or 11 to take part.

Reeves said he had been hopeful that they could find a 12^th team, to help fill out the western pool.

"We tried all sort of scenarios. West Wyalong were actually not far off, they were interested, they just couldn't jag enough players," he said.

"We also tried Young and even Narrabri and Gunnedah up north. We cast the net pretty wide but we just didn't have any luck."

Next season's Western under 21s competition will be a week shorter than last season.

The 2021 campaign featured six teams, playing a round robin before culminating in two weeks of finals, for a total of seven weeks.

Next year will feature three pool rounds before a three-week final series.

"We sent out some feedback to the clubs that participated earlier this year and the consensus that the length was more than enough," Reeves said.

"I think four to five games is the perfect sweet spot but we decided to settle on the six weeks."

There will also be the potential of some bumper summer action as 21s matches could be played alongside Western Women's Rugby League (WWRL) matches at the one ground on certain weekends.

The WWRL will also be a pre-season competition next year.

Dubbo could potentially host a huge day of action during round one of the 21s season on Sunday, February 13.

Dubbo will host the 21s derby between Macquarie and CYMS and the meeting between Mudgee and Coonamble while the Wiradjuri Goannas will be taking on Castlereagh in the WWRL.

After three rounds in the 21s competition the finals series will conclude on on either March 18, 19, 20 depending on the teams involved and ground availability.

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