Junior Rugby

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Players in age groups from U5 all the way through to U18 play to modified laws that are adapted to allow for progressive development of the player.
The philosophy of the modified laws is focused around the player, making the game safer to ensure each player receives the greatest possible participation and enjoyment from playing the game of rugby.
The aim of the modified rugby game is to develop the individual skills, fitness and team work of all players in accordance with their physical maturity and understanding of the game.
Try Rugby Kids Pathway for U6 – U12 players provides a series of age-specific modified rugby games.

Click here to access Rugby Xplorer.

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U5 – U9: MINIS COMPETITION

Rugby Australia has done a lot of work in the Minis space and Get into Rugby is the official entry-level format for children aged 4 – 7 years. Get into Rugby empowers participants with the skills, understanding, and confidence to safely transition to Junior Rugby and beyond. The Under 8 & Under 9 age groups both play ‘tackle’ or ‘contact’ rugby.

The programs for 4 & 5 year old players are club based and mostly will be done mid-week based around the clubs training night. The U6-U9 age groups play in Minis competitions based around their local Districts. There are seven different Minis competitions operating in Sydney. These competitions operate under the Pathways Laws and provide a series of age-specific modified rugby games. These modified games progressively develop the individual skills, fitness and team work of all players in accordance with their physical maturity and understanding of the game.

In 2025 SJRU will continue to facilitate a Minis Competition Manager who will organize the draws for each of the Districts. This will also involve some initiatives around the gameday product and institute such innovations as Tri Tag Rugby for U6 & U7’s, Tackle trial in U7s, Cross-District Gala days and hopefully we can add a U9 Waratah Plate as some of the changes.

SJRU is proudly supported by Wahu who will send all registered minis rugby players (Under 8’s and younger) a complimentary NSW Juniors Wahu Rugby pack – make sure you ‘opt in’ when registering.

U10 – U12: (incl Friday Night Rugby for U10-U12 ages)

These age groups also follow the Pathway requirements that have been developed to increase activity levels for maximum participation and enjoyment.
The Pathway provides an integrated and consistent approach to the development of U6 to U12 players, coaches and referees nationally.
Table Summary of Modified Rules for U6 to U12

Australian U19 Law Variations apply from U13 – Opens (U17 – U18) and follow on from the Get Into Rugby Pathway, continuing the progression of players rugby skills and development.

U13 – Opens age groups include junior representative opportunities at local club, school and regional levels. Through these diverse age ranges the priority is to provide the players with opportunities to learn.

GAME MODIFICATIONS FOR U13 – Opens

In addition to the World Rugby U19 Laws of the Game, the Australian Rugby Union has adopted Australian Under 19 Law Variations. The Australian U19 Law Variations and Guidelines must be read in conjunction with World Rugby’s U19 Law Variations. Both sets of Variations are applicable to all matches at Under 19 level played in Australia (except International U19 matches), including those games played by visiting touring teams.

Girls Rugby

Girls’ rugby celebrates differences in size, strength, shape and speed, empowering girls with self confidence, while participating in a game that develops their skills, fitness and team work. There are a number of opportunities for girls to get involved and play rugby both on and off the field, whether as a player, coach, referee or volunteer.

These include our Sera Naiqama Cup (Girls rugby XV’s with Game On Principles to a min of 10 players) which will be played as a full season competition – the same as the boys. We will incorporate the ‘Game On’ principles which will allow teams to match numbers and get as many girls playing on the field as possible. As we can now provide a full season Girls Rugby offering – Girls are expected to play in the Girls competitions (ie there will not be any mixed Gender dispensations in the U13 and older ages).

There is also our Girls 7s competitions (Madison Ashby & Sariah Paki) which run in their own window of Oct-Nov. Add to this Rep Rugby opportunities for the older girls in the XV’s format at the NSWJRU State Champs, followed by Sydney and then NSW teams.

Rugby 7s

Rugby 7s is an exciting, fast game that is now an Olympic sport. The game originated in Scotland in 1883 and is now played in many countries around the world. The sport boasts the exact same rules, ball and field size for both girls & boys.

A unique, faster, modified 15s rugby game played by all ages and abilities. As the name implies, there are only 7 players per team on the field at any one time and the games finish in just 14 minutes of play. Sydney Junior Rugby Union has seen the number of players enjoying this game sky rocket in the last few years.

Representative Rugby

Representative Rugby is the next level of junior club rugby and players from the 61 clubs across Sydney can trial for a representative position in their district.

There are 12 districts across the SJRU and teams from U10-U18’s compete in the NSW Junior Rugby Union Championships. Currently, the U10 and U11 age groups are ‘development’ year groups. U12’s and above compete for the State Championship title across all of NSW district representative teams.

For U14 – U18 age groups, players are also eligible for selection in the representative SJRU teams who compete against country juniors and other visiting unions.

Further information becomes available in the lead up to the selection trials for the different age groups.
U14s
District U14s teams compete at the NSWJRU State Championships over the June long weekend. The U14s SJRU team is chosen from a squad selected from this weekend. The SJRU squad competes at the Regional Tournament in early July.
U15s
District U15s teams compete at the NSWJRU State Championships over the June long weekend with teams being selected for Northern Zone, Southern Zone, Western Zone and Barbarians from this weekend. These 4 teams then compete at the Regional Tournament in early July. The SJRU U15s team is selected at the Regional Tournament.
U16s
There will be 2 Sydney Teams selected at the NSWRU State Championships.  These 2 Sydney teams will play 2 Country Teams at the Regionals Carnival which is also a selection trial for the SJRU U16 Team.  The SJRU U16s will participate at the NSWRU U16s Carnival in July. At this Carnival a NSWRU U16s team will be selected to compete at the National U16s Tournament in the September.
U17s – U18s
Open to all U17 & U18 players whom are registered and playing in the forthcoming season for SJRU Opens team as well as U18 players in SRU or NSW Suburban Colts programs. Open Trial to be held on May 1st.

The non-contact form of sevens style rugby is Tri-Tag – the new Rugby AU product.

Head to Tri-Tag for all the information.

Trytons is a specialized rugby union program for players with special needs.

The program is suitable for boys and girls of all abilities between the ages of 5 – 17 years. Participants are grouped according to their ability and participate in skill-based activities aimed at improving their individual skills, coordination, fitness and team work. Participants are professionally coached by staff or trained volunteers with an understanding of the limitations that each child may encounter. The program is run by Sydney Junior Rugby Union with the assistance of the Australian Rugby Union and NSW Rugby.