NSW Junior Rugby Union
NSW Juniors Representative Pathways 2024 Girls – 7’s, 10’s & XV’s
This document aims to provide a level of transparency and clarity around the different pathways, NSW Juniors, NSW Schools and NSWRU have worked closely together to simplify and align all these pathways to ensure that all elements of rugby within NSW have a vibrant and inclusive pathway to higher levels of rugby.
To clarify these pathways for the different age groups we have put together some simple 'Roadmaps' which hopefully clearly state the stages for each age group along the pathways.
In the U10 and U11 age groups young females have several options available to them
In the XV’s format can choose to play amongst the boys in mixed teams across the SJRU & CRU competitions (played as 12 per side under Rugby AU pathways). Or where available they can play in a dedicated Female competition such as the SJRU U12 10’s wave (10 per side) which runs from Apr 7th till Jun 30th – this female only club competition is played on a Sunday in amongst the regular SJRU Competitions.
For further ‘Rep’ pathway options NSW Juniors hosts The Rugby Club Foundation NSW Junior State Gala for these ages, which in 2024 will be held at either Riverwood (U10) or Mudgee (U11) to be held on the weekend of 20th-21July.
This tournament has no finals - it is purely a round robin where all teams will play2-3 games on each day. The essence of this tournament is about fun and the enjoyment of the game, whilst still providing an entry level experience to Rep rugby. Zones and Districts are invited to enter two teams of up to 18 players in each squad and we do ask that they be graded into A & B levels so that we can match like-for-like teams and avoid potential blow-outs by mismatching teams.
The atmosphere is all about fun and includes relay races and novelty events to add to the experience. This is already an iconic event in our calendar and well worth the trip. There are no further teams selected from this tournament.
In 2023 we began a ‘girls only’ section in the U11s of the carnival which was very popular, and we will look to replicate that in 2024.
For the 7s format there are several ages specific designated 7s carnivals which are run all throughout the year. For example SJRU runs a wave Club 7s, Frosty 7s & Spring 7s available to the girls.
SJRU will be running an U10 ‘Training Squad’ across their 7s waves as an entry point for girls aged 8-10. This will involve a skills and training component before splitting into games – open to all clubs and they can send just 1 or 2 girls or an entire team. This is for the younger girls who are not quite ready to mix it in the U11 competitions.
There is also the District State 7s Gala for mixed teams in U11 age group which is held at Forster Tuncurry from the 28th - 30th September.
For U12 girls in the XV’s format can choose to play amongst the boys in mixed teams across the SJRU & CRU competitions (played as 15 per side under Rugby AU pathways). Or where available they can play in a dedicated Girls competitions such as the SJRU U12 10’s wave (10 per side) which runs from Apr 7th till Jun 30th – this female only club competition is played on a Sunday in amongst the regular SJRU Competitions.
Following the Girls XVs wave SJRU will be running an U12 Girls Development Gala on 13th/14 July during school holidays. This is a chance for District teams to select U12 Girls Development teams, and experience what Rep rugby is all about in a fun, carnival atmosphere.
This Tournament will see teams play several round robin games but there are no finals. This Carnival is also open to any of the Country Zones who have an U12 Girls Zone team they wish to enter. There are no further U12 Girls Rep teams selected beyond this carnival.
For the 7s format there are several ages specific designated 7s carnivals which are run all throughout the year. For example, SJRU runs a wave Club 7s, Frosty 7s& Spring 7s available to the girls. There is also a NSWRU State 7s Gala for District teams in U13 age group which is held at Forster Tuncurry from the 28th - 30th September.
For U13 girls in the XV’s format can choose to play amongst the U13 boys (with Mixed Gender Dispensation) in mixed teams across the SJRU & CRU competitions (played as 15 per side under Rugby AU pathways).
Or where available they can play in a dedicated Female competition such as the SJRU U14 10’s wave (10 per side) which runs from Apr 7th till Jun 30th – this female only club competition is played on a Sunday in amongst the regular SJRU Competitions. The further Rep opportunities come via the U14 Age group here.
Please note - At State Champs level – girls who choose to play at the Boys U13 State Championships will not be seen by the U14 Girls Sydney and NSW Country selectors and therefore will not be considered. Girls must play at the Girls U14 State Champs to be considered for higher honours.
For the 7s format there are several ages specific designated 7s carnivals which are run all throughout the year. For example, SJRU runs a wave Club 7s, Frosty 7s & Spring 7s available to the girls. There is also a NSWRU State 7s Gala for District teams in U13 age group which is held at Forster Tuncurry from the 28th - 30th September.
For U14 girls in the XV’s format can choose to play amongst the U14 boys (with Mixed Gender Dispensation) in mixed teams across the SJRU & CRU competitions (played as 15 per side under Rugby AU pathways).
Or where available they can play in a dedicated Female competition such as the SJRU U14 10’s wave (10 per side) which runs from Apr 7th till Jun 30th – this female only club competition is played on a Sunday in amongst the regular SJRU Competitions.
From these club comps, we move onto Representative opportunities with The Rugby Club Foundation NSW Junior State Championships, where the girls will compete for the ‘Phil Warner Trophy’. Please note that to be eligible to participate at the State Champs a player must have played a minimum of 4 club games in 2024 prior to the State Champs weekend.
These Champs will be held in Dubbo over the June long weekend (8th-10thJune) alongside the boys U14 State Champs. Our 2022 host club is Dubbo Roos Rugby Club with Apex Oval Fields as the venue.
The under 14 age group is the first step in the pathway where further individual selection from the State Champs (Incl Sydney Cups & Country Champs) will go onto play in higher level fixtures.
NSW Country(CRU) & Sydney Junior Rugby Union (SJRU) will each select a squad of 35-40 from the State Championships. They will then train squads up until the NSWJRU Regionals (6 – 7th July at Grantham Oval, Seven Hills hosted by Blacktown Scorpions Junior Rugby) where they will be split into teams and play selection trial games.
From here final selection of Sydney & NSW Country U14 teams.
The NSW Country U14 and Sydney U14 teams will then compete at the NSWJRU City vs Country Carnival on Sunday 28th July (Bathurst) for the ‘NSWJRU Sponsors Plate’.
The Sydney U14 Girls will also compete in an annual SJRU vs BJRU fixture on the 22nd Sept. In 2024 this fixture will be hosted in Sydney. *edit BJRU declined this fixture
For the 7s format there are several ages specific designated 7s carnivals which are run all throughout the year. For example, SJRU runs a wave Club 7s, Frosty 7s & Spring 7s available to the girls. There is also a NSWRU State 7s Gala for District teams in U15 age group which is held at Forster Tuncurry from the 11th – 13th October.
These U15 7s sides are selected as Zone/District Rep teams for this tournament, followed by NSW squads’ selection.
U15 girls in XV’s format can choose to play amongst the U15 boys (with Mixed Gender Dispensation) in mixed teams across the SJRU & CRU competitions (played as 15 per side under Rugby AU pathways).
Or where available they can play in a dedicated Female competition such as the SJRU U16 10’s wave which runs from Apr 7th till Jun 30th –this female only club competition is played on a Sunday in amongst the regular SJRU Competitions.
From these club XVs comps, girls can move onto Representative opportunities with The Rugby Club Foundation U16 NSW Junior State Championships.
For the 7s format there are several ages specific designated 7s carnivals which are run all throughout the year. For example, SJRU runs a wave Club 7s, Frosty 7s & Spring 7s available to the girls. There is also a NSWRU State 7s Gala for District teams in U15 age group which is held at Forster Tuncurry from the 11th – 13th October.
These U15 7s sides are selected as Zone/District Rep teams for this tournament, followed by NSW squads’ selection.
U16 girls in XVs format can play in a dedicated Girls competitions such as the SJRU U16 10’s wave which runs from Apr 7th till Jun 30th –this female only club competition is played on a Sunday in amongst the regular SJRU Competitions.
From these club XVs comps, girls can move onto Representative opportunities with The Rugby Club Foundation U16 NSW Junior State Championships, where the girls will compete for the ‘Kerry Brady Shield’.
These Championships will be held in over the June long weekend (8th-10thJune) alongside the boys U16 State Champs. Our 2024 hosts will be Coffs Harbour playing out of CEX Stadium. Please note that to be eligible to participate at the State Champs a player must have played a minimum of 4 club games in 2024 prior to the State Champs weekend.
NSW Country (CRU) & Sydney Junior Rugby Union (SJRU) will each select a squad of 35-40 from the State Championships.
Training occurs for these squads up until the NSWJRU Regionals (6th – 7 July at Grantham Oval, Seven Hills hosted by Blacktown Scorpions Junior Rugby) where they will be split into teams and play selection trial games.
From here the final selection for Sydney & NSW Country U16 teams.
The NSW Country U16 and Sydney U16 teams will then compete at the NSWJRU City vs Country Carnival on Sunday 23rd July (Maitland) for the ‘Mahalia Murphy Shield’.
For the first time ever in 2024 we shall be selecting a NSW Girls U16 team – this will be selected directly from the City vs Country game. The NSW team will then contest a fixture against a NSW Presidents XV (selected from the Pasifika Youth Cup) and a Western Australia State team on December 13th-15th in Sydney.
The Sydney U16 Girls will also compete in an annual SJRU vs BJRU fixture on the 22nd Sept. In 2024 this fixture will be hosted in Sydney. *edit BJRU declined this fixture
For the 7s format there are several ages specific designated 7s carnivals which are run all throughout the year. For example, SJRU runs a wave Club 7s, Frosty 7s & Spring 7s available to the girls. There is also a NSWRU State 7s Gala for District teams in U17 age group which is held at Forster Tuncurry from the 11th – 13th October.
These U17 7s sides are selected as Zone/District Rep teams for this tournament, followed by NSW squads’ selection.
The U18 age group many of the girls are playing in Senior Women’s Rugby competitions such as ‘Jack Scott Cup’ or ‘Shute Shield 7’s’.
SJRU does run a dedicated Girls competitions such as the SJRU U18 10’s wave which runs from Apr 7th till Jun 30th – this girl’s only club competition is played on a Sunday in amongst the regular SJRU Competitions.
From these Club XVs comps, girls can move onto Representative opportunities with The Rugby Club Foundation U18 NSW Junior State Championships where the girls will compete for the ‘J.B.Carroll Shield’. Please note that to be eligible to participate at the State Champs a player must have played a minimum of 4 club games in 2024 prior to the State Champs weekend.
These Champs will be held at St Lukes Ovals, Concord over the June long weekend (8th-10June) alongside the boys U18 State Champs. Our 2024 host club will be West Harbour Rugby.
NSW Country (CRU) & Sydney Junior Rugby Union (SJRU) will each select a squad from the State Championships.
Training occurs for these squads up until the NSWJRU Regionals (6th – 7th July at Grantham Oval, Seven Hills hosted by Blacktown Scorpions Junior Rugby) where they will play some selection trial games.
From here final selection of Sydney & NSW Country U18 teams.
The NSW Country U18 and Sydney U18 teams will then compete at the NSWJRU City vs Country Carnival on Sunday 28th July (Bathurst) for the ‘Grace Hamilton Shield’.
For the first time ever in 2024 we shall be selecting a NSW Girls U18 team – this will be selected directly from the City vs Country game. The NSW team will then contest a fixture against a NSW Presidents XV (selected from the Pasifika Youth Cup) and a Western Australia State team on December 13th-15th in Sydney.
