WRFU chief executive Dale Cobb said the early start was a compromise between club officials who wanted to make sure they got through a full two rounds with their top players available, and the Heartland coaches who wanted more time for squad preparations before their first game against South Canterbury in Timaru on August 23.
With the Meads and Lochore Cup finals scheduled for the weekend of October 25-26, it could be a long year for Wanganui's top players.
"Gone are the days you could use your first two Heartland games as a warm-up. We need to hit our straps from day one," Cobb said.
"It's good to put 2013 behind us because likewise, we're rebuilding. We accept we've got some ground to make up. I still maintain, the strength of Wanganui rugby is in the clubs."
Cobb is also holding discussions with an Australian contact for Wanganui to host a big club team from South Australia for a mid-season game against the Wanganui representative team.
It's understood the Aussie side will bring 40 players to the country for a three-week tour, Cobb said.
But before the representative season gets under way, the clues for the answers to the big questions about this year's Premier division will be revealed on March 22.
Firstly, can any team end the unbeaten run of 2012-13 champions Ruapehu who, aside from the championship, also have the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield and Paul Mitchell Cup (Round 1 winners) comfortably locked away.
Their first assignment will be at the Country Club against Kaierau, one of two proud city clubs looking for a little redemption.
Between mass injuries, player defections and coaching upheaval, Kaierau and Marist both had disappointing 2013 campaigns and will want to set themselves back in contention for a crack at the semifinals.
For Marist, changes to union rules will allow Jason Hamlin to continue as head coach despite being assistant to Jason Caskey with the Heartland squad, while Richard Te Ngahui will join Keith Savell in guiding Kaierau.
Cobb is confident they can continue to rebuild the team culture which suffered from the departure of several key players to Pirates.
Marist's first match will be away against the real climbers from 2013, as Marton will be keen to prove their fifth placing last year wasn't a flash in the pan.
While player line-ups are not yet known, a few notable names have begun to crop up.
The 1.98m tall midfield back Saul Chase, who was an origin player for the 2012 Heartland campaign, has been training with Marton while it's understood that running around with Pirates is outside back Rusi Vukula, a 2011 Wanganui representative.
Good news from Ruapehu is that goal-kicking youngster Zyon Hekenui - who landed the injury time penalty to win the championship in last year's final with Pirates and went on to play first-five for Wanganui - is still in the province after securing employment.
There's no question Caskey and his coaching staff are in the market for a strong representative backline after last year's version couldn't gel during the campaign.
In the Seniors it will be a 13-team competition with the news Ratana will again field a team in both divisions, but the question is if any team can stop Hunterville taking a sixth-straight championship.
