ACTJRU Competition and operation
The ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union Board oversees the ACT Junior Rugby Union (ACTJRU), the ACT Rugby (grade rugby) ACTRU. The ACTJRU conduct the Junior Rugby competition within the ACT and Southern NSW region. They also conduct the ACT/NSW Junior representative teams, Junior Brumbies, South Coast and Monaro team and the Southern Inland team.
The ACTJRU sets-out and administers the ACTJRU Competition Rules. The Competition Rules can be downloaded from the ACTJRU web site. These are the rules the competition is conducted under along with the supporting Rugby Laws – RugbyAu pathway laws(u7-u12s) and World Rugby U19 Law Variations (including RugbyAu variations).
Competition Structure
For our younger age groups – Under7s to under 9s – the ACT Junior competition is broken into two competitions, these being the Northside and the Southside competitions. Vikings normally plays in the Southside competition, but we are sometimes asked to field teams in the Northside competition. Each of the competitions is then further broken into divisions from U9s up based on team skill so that teams of roughly even ability are grouped into the same competition. There is only a single division for U7s and U8s.
The competition is typically organized into a series of home and away games.
The ACTJRU competition generally starts on the first weekend of May each year and is conducted over 12 Rounds. Rounds 1-7 take place up to the July School Holidays with rounds 8-12 after the School Holidays. Finals are conducted over 2 weekends in early September; semifinals and then Grand finals over 2 days (Saturday and Sunday).
Age Groups
This year Juniors are looking at fielding teams from the Under 7s through to the U15’s, along with the Gen-Red teams for u16s and u18s
Under RugbyAu and ACTJRU policies all players qualify for their own age group plus 1 year up. Through the season and while adhering to ACTJRU competition rules, players may be asked to fill in in an age group above, if it is only one year up.
Ladies/Girls Rugby: The ACTJRU have established a girl 10 a side competition for girls aged 13 and above. Girls aged 6 to 12 can participate in the regular pathway competition.
Mixed competition
Age group | Player born in | Age turns in 2021 | Comp | Team size | Sqd. size |
Under 7 | 2014 | 7 | Mixed | 7 | 10 |
Under 8 | 2013 | 8 | Mixed | 7 | 10 |
Under 9 | 2012 | 9 | Mixed | 10 | 15 |
Under 10 | 2011 | 10 | Mixed | 12 | 17 |
Under 11 | 2010 | 11 | Mixed | 12 | 17 |
Under 12 | 2009 | 12 | Mixed | 15 | 23 |
Boys competition
Age group | Player born in | Age turns in 2021 | Comp | Team size | Sqd. size |
Under 13 | 2008 | 13 | Boys | 15 | 23 |
Under 14 | 2007 | 14 | Boys | 15 | 23 |
Under 15 | 2006, 2007 | 15 | Boys | 15 | 23 |
Under 16 | 2005 | 16 | Boys | 15 | 23 |
Under 18 | 2004 | 17, 18 | Boys | 15 | 23 |
Girls competition
Age group | Player born in | Age turns in 2021 | Comp | Team size | Sqd. size |
Girls Under 14 | 2006 | 13, 14 | Girls | 10 | 15 |
Girls Under 16 | 2003, 2002 | 15, 16 | Girls | 10 | 15 |
Girls Under 18 | 2004, 2005 | 17, 18 | Girls | 10 | 15 |
Once team nominations are submitted, the final decisions will be made based on actual player and team registration numbers.
Player allocations into teams will initially be sorted as per age and NOT by previous year’s team. Final team allocations will be discussed with the coaches and with the Registrar and Vice Presidents. Parents may request for players to be place into a specific team due to friendships however this may not always happen. Where a player/parent would like a child to play a year up due to siblings or friends being in the age group above, an application may be made to the Registrar and Vice Presidents for consideration. Both coaches of each age group must agree to support the application.
