Those names were the core of the Orange Hawks' 2019 season, but this year they'll be trading the blue and white for orange and green under the stern gaze of Viv Paasi.

The exodus of players following Group 10's abandonment for 2020 has resulted in league players heading across to rugby union, and while there hasn't been a split down the middle of CYMS heading to Emus and Hawks to City, the Duncan Young factor has played heavily on the Lions' recruiting.

Steven Widders and Semisi Tupou will also make the leap across.

Rakai Tuheke said after Young had put the call-out to the Hawks playing group a few of them got together and decided to jump out with him, but not all had followed.

"I think everyone's kind of split up, we've got a few Hawks boys at Emus and a few CYMS at City," Tuheke said.

"It'll be good playing against your mates, especially when we both don't know what we're doing."

Tuheke played union as a junior back home in New Zealand through to under 15s, with a few senior games as an 18-year-old, but said he hadn't had a decent run at it in five years or so.

The transition will take its time, but Tuheke said the Lions' coaching staff - headed by Viv Paasi - was as welcoming as could be.

"Viv is an awesome coach, knows his stuff and he's like a perfectionist coach in his instruction and breaks things down which is helpful for us league boys," he said.

"It's easier to learn off them and they tell you exactly what you want and he'll really let you know what your role is."

Rodriguez was due to line up in green and gold in season 2020 having made the swap from Hawks, but will change clubs for the second time in six months after Group 10 was cancelled, and nearly ended up playing Wallerawang Landscaping Cup.

"We were deciding to give the New Era Cup a run and there was too much politics in it - yes and no, yes it's starting, yes there's a team, no you can't play and then union was the go-to," he said.

"It's been really good, the morale's good."

He said training numbers had been growing, and the half-dozen league players would have an impact.

"Not saying we'll change it but having us league boys come in there and shake it up a bit and take that stigma of them coming to train to lose is gone," Rodriguez said.

"Having us be fired up and learning is really pushing a lot of the guys who've been there, the vets, to step up again to know they have a chance."

He echoed Tuheke's point about the Lions' coaches, as even with international Rugby Sevens experience under his belt it's been five years since Rodriguez lined up in the 15-a-side game.

"I'm in the backs again and sevens is all about having the backs," he said.

"I understand the game to a point but I think I need to be playing 15s to realise I know what I'm doing or I don't know what I'm doing.

"We'll see when we get out first game against a team who knows what they're doing and I'm standing there like 'far out'."

Orange City begins its season on July 25, with the side having a bye in the competition's opening round.