The 2026 NSW Junior Rugby Championships brought together the best young talent from across the state over a memorable long weekend, and the ACT Junior Rugby Union was well represented. Eight ACTJRU teams made the journey to venues spanning the Hunter Valley, the NSW Central West, the Mid North Coast, and the heart of Sydney, competing hard, learning plenty, and in several cases, bringing home silverware. Here’s how each team got on.
ACTJRU Under 12s – Mid North Coast
The Under 12s made the trip to the Mid North Coast and gave a tremendous account of themselves. The boys won two of their four pool games, and their determination carried them all the way through a playoff win to finish 8th overall. A fantastic effort and a great day of rugby for this group of young players.
ACTJRU Under 13 Boys – Orange, NSW Central West
The Under 13 Boys travelled to Orange and were outstanding throughout. Winning four of their five pool games, they advanced all the way to the third versus fourth place playoff, where they finished the job, defeating Winga 28–12. That result is a fitting reward for a team that competed hard from start to finish and showed exactly what ACTJRU junior representative rugby is all about.
View the Under 13 Boys results.
ACTJRU Under 14 Boys – Dubbo, NSW Central West
The Under 14 Boys made their mark in Dubbo, winning two of their three pool games in a competitive field. A highlight of their tournament was a hard-fought draw with Hunter Wildfires, a result that showcased real character and helped see them through to the playoff stages, where they finished 8th overall. Competing strongly in every match, this group should leave Dubbo with plenty of confidence for the future.
View the Under 14 Boys results.
ACTJRU Under 14 Girls – Dubbo, NSW Central West
The Under 14 Girls headed to Dubbo combining with West Harbour to form a composite side and it proved to be a winning combination. The team enjoyed a series of competitive pool games, with a convincing win over Southern Inland a highlight of the pool stage. They carried that momentum all the way to the Plate Final, where they defeated Southern Inland once more to claim the silverware. A brilliant result for the girls and a tournament to remember.
View the Under 14 Girls results.
ACTJRU Under 15 Boys – Maitland, Hunter Valley
The Under 15 Boys were the standout performers of the ACTJRU contingent across the entire long weekend. Making the journey up to Maitland in the Hunter Valley, they were imperious from the opening whistle, topping their pool with three wins from three over Central Coast, Illawarra, and Mid North Coast before their momentum carried deep into the knockout rounds.
The boys ultimately finished the championships with six wins from seven games, pushing Northern Suburbs all the way in a tight encounter along the way. They capped off the tournament by claiming the Cup third versus fourth playoff against Randwick. Six from seven across a full state championship. That is a result that speaks for itself.
View the Under 15 Boys results.
ACTJRU Under 16 Boys – Eric Tweedale Stadium, Granville
The Under 16 Boys took the field at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville, the iconic home of Parramatta’s Two Blues, where they were drawn into Pool B against a host of tough Sydney opponents. They competed hard throughout, with a highlight of their campaign being a strong win over Central Coast. They pushed all the way to the Plate Semifinal against Boronia, leaving the championships with plenty of experience gained against strong metropolitan competition and a lot to look forward to.
View the Under 16 Boys results.
ACTJRU Under 16 Girls – Eric Tweedale Stadium, Granville
The Under 16 Girls also took to Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville across what was a demanding long weekend against tough Sydney opposition. The girls fought hard at every stage of the competition, gaining invaluable experience, with standout victories over Winga and Gordon two genuine highlights across the three days. The team finished 8th overall, and this group comes home with a lot to be proud of.
View the Under 16 Girls results.
ACTJRU Under 18 Girls – St Lukes Park, Concord
The Under 18 Girls rounded out the ACTJRU contingent at St Lukes Park in Concord, competing in what is one of the most competitive fields in the NSW junior calendar. They turned in a composed and confident pool stage, winning three of their four pool games before finishing 6th overall at the championships. Three wins from four in the pool is a strong result, and this group of young women should be immensely proud of how they represented the ACT.
View the Under 18 Girls results.
Thank You to Everyone Who Made It Happen
None of this is possible without the tireless effort of the people behind the scenes. A heartfelt thank you to all the players who gave everything on the field, to the coaches and managers who prepared and guided these teams across three days of competition, and to the volunteers and supporters who made the long trip to cheer them on from the sidelines.
A special thank you to our valued partner Parker Financial for their continued support of ACTJRU’s representative program. Your backing makes experiences like this possible.
And to every player who wore the ACT jersey this long weekend, thank you. You did us proud.
