Photo gallery of NSW’s rising stars in U16, U18s girls, boys junior state rugby championships 2025

The rising stars of rugby and future Wallaroos and Wallabies were firmly in the spotlight at the NSW U16, U18s junior championships. Best action photos from the events here

Central North’s Frazer Penberthy scoring. Pictures: Julian Andrews.

There were heart-stopping thrillers, runaway tries, blockbusting defence and smiles all around at the two Sydney venues hosting NSW junior rugby state championships over the long weekend.

The U16s boys and girls competitions were played at Eric Tweedale with the U18s boys and girls tournaments at St Luke’s at Concord.

The championships are an important pathway for the rising stars of the game with plenty of interest in these two age groups.

Over the three days countless games were played before the winners were decided on Sunday.

Photographer Julian Andrews was at the two tournaments across the weekend and took some fantastic action photos.

Manly’s Eden Melham dives over in the corner for a try in the U18s.

What a shot! Central North’s Frazer Penberthy scoring against Manly.

The tournament provided our junior talent the chance to test themselves against the best in the state at the three-dayu extravaganza.

It also provided rugby selectors with the opportunity to spy talent for future teams, rep sides and potentially the Waratahs academies in the future.

Hunter’s Darcy Lawson and Randwick’s Hamish Punch

At the under 16s championships the Two Blues beat Randwick 10-0 at Eric Tweedale. in the boys competition.

Penrith beat Manly West 8-5 in the girls under 16 decider. FULL RESULT WRAP HERE

Uni Girls celebrating at the final whistle.

At the U18s Randwick beat Wildfires 14-7 in the state championship cup final.

Benjamin Collison scored Randwick’s try with Marat Nahas kicking three penalties.

Rory Grant scored for the Wildfires. DAY ONE WRAP HERE

Manly's Carlito Vesely.

Randwick's Cooper Taylor

In the girls championship the Manly Mermaids and Sydney Uni were involved in a 10-10 draw in the U18s decider.

Salote Koula and Kidada Thomas scored for Manly with Kiana Vatuuba scoring for Uni and Tenaria George converting and kicking a penalty. DAY TWO WRAP HERE

Hunter’s Bastiaan Osborne-Zorbes

Uni’s Diana Varuna scores a try in the U18s.

Manly’s Shonte Taumata at Concorde. .

Manly’s Shonte Taumata cherishing the ball

Hunter’s Cody Field in the U18s.

Trying hard! Warringa’s Jasmin Berry scoring in the 16s final.

Manly’s Shonte Taumata about to take on a Uni rival.

Gordon player Ash Graham in a 16s match.

Warringah’s Holly Cervantes in a match against Illawarra

Randwick player Max Crook

Action from the Gordon v ACT match. ACT player Oliver Henderson

Warringah player Jasmin Berry

Manly’s Eden Melham after her try

Illawarra player Asher Chapman

Warringah player Jasmin Berry scoring in the U16s.

Manly’s Shonte Taumata in a tough game against Uni.

Action from the U16s Randwick v Illawarra match.

Randwick’s Callum Bush-Brady .

: Illawarra player Darcy Attwell.

Hunter’s Brodie Dudgeon

Warringah player Maia Cole

Hunter’s Cody Field

Manly’s Cody Tuimavese

Southern Inland player Emily Buck.

Uni’s Sophia Brightwell.

Hunter’s Darcy Lawson and Randwick’s Hamish Punch

Southern Inland player Sophie Boxsell

Uni celebrating at the final whistle.

Hunter’s Cody Field

Uni player Caliche Toki-Rimene on the burst. Pics by Julian Andrews.

Warringah’s Lexie Fulton

Decider between Randwick and Hunter Wildfires.

Central West’s Billie Caton

Manly's Carlito Vesely.

FOLLOW and read more from Amanda Lulham HERE

Originally published as Photo gallery of NSW’s rising stars in U16, U18s girls, boys junior state rugby championships 2025