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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. Updated action photos from the events here

Action in the Juniors 2025 State Championships Under 16s pate semi-final match between Central West and North Coast. and Thomas Binney. Pictures: Julian Andrews
Action in the Juniors 2025 State Championships Under 16s pate semi-final match between Central West and North Coast. and Thomas Binney. Pictures: Julian Andrews
News Sport Network

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.
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.
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.

Illawarra and Southern Inland battle.
Illawarra and Southern Inland battle.
Hunter’s Darcy Lawson and Randwick’s Hamish Punch
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.
Uni Girls celebrating at the final whistle.
Grand final between Manly and Sydney Uni with Sophia Brightwell.
Grand final between Manly and Sydney Uni with Sophia Brightwell.

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.
Manly's Carlito Vesely.
Randwick's Cooper Taylor
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
Hunter’s Bastiaan Osborne-Zorbes
Uni’s Diana Varuna scores a try in the U18s.
Uni’s Diana Varuna scores a try in the U18s.
Manly’s Shonte Taumata at Concorde. .
Manly’s Shonte Taumata at Concorde. .
Manly’s Shonte Taumata cherishing the ball
Manly’s Shonte Taumata cherishing the ball
Hunter’s Cody Field in the U18s.
Hunter’s Cody Field in the U18s.
Trying hard! Warringa’s Jasmin Berry scoring in the 16s final.
Trying hard! Warringa’s Jasmin Berry scoring in the 16s final.
Manly’s Shonte Taumata about to take on a Uni rival.
Manly’s Shonte Taumata about to take on a Uni rival.
Gordon player Ash Graham in a 16s match.
Gordon player Ash Graham in a 16s match.
Warringah’s Holly Cervantes in a match against Illawarra
Warringah’s Holly Cervantes in a match against Illawarra
Randwick player Max Crook
Randwick player Max Crook
Action from the Gordon v ACT match. ACT player Oliver Henderson
Action from the Gordon v ACT match. ACT player Oliver Henderson
Warringah player Jasmin Berry
Warringah player Jasmin Berry
Manly’s Eden Melham after her try
Manly’s Eden Melham after her try
Illawarra player Asher Chapman
Illawarra player Asher Chapman
Warringah player Jasmin Berry scoring in the U16s.
Warringah player Jasmin Berry scoring in the U16s.
Manly’s Shonte Taumata in a tough game against Uni.
Manly’s Shonte Taumata in a tough game against Uni.
Action from the U16s Randwick v Illawarra match.
Action from the U16s Randwick v Illawarra match.
Randwick’s Callum Bush-Brady .
Randwick’s Callum Bush-Brady .
: Illawarra player Darcy Attwell.
: Illawarra player Darcy Attwell.
Hunter’s Brodie Dudgeon
Hunter’s Brodie Dudgeon
Warringah player Maia Cole
Warringah player Maia Cole
Hunter’s Cody Field
Hunter’s Cody Field
Manly’s Cody Tuimavese
Manly’s Cody Tuimavese
Southern Inland player Emily Buck.
Southern Inland player Emily Buck.
Uni’s Sophia Brightwell.
Uni’s Sophia Brightwell.
Hunter’s Darcy Lawson and Randwick’s Hamish Punch
Hunter’s Darcy Lawson and Randwick’s Hamish Punch
Southern Inland player Sophie Boxsell
Southern Inland player Sophie Boxsell
Uni celebrating at the final whistle.
Uni celebrating at the final whistle.
Hunter’s Cody Field
Hunter’s Cody Field
Uni player Caliche Toki-Rimene on the burst. Pics by Julian Andrews.
Uni player Caliche Toki-Rimene on the burst. Pics by Julian Andrews.
Warringah’s Lexie Fulton
Warringah’s Lexie Fulton
Decider between Randwick and Hunter Wildfires.
Decider between Randwick and Hunter Wildfires.
Central West’s Billie Caton
Central West’s Billie Caton
Manly's Carlito Vesely.
Manly's Carlito Vesely.
Manly’s Fraser McGowan
Manly’s Fraser McGowan
Warringa’s Holly Cervantes.
Warringa’s Holly Cervantes.
Girls U16 Plate semi-final match between Illawarra and Southern Inland
Girls U16 Plate semi-final match between Illawarra and Southern Inland
Southern Inland player Atereana Kahukura all wrapped up.
Southern Inland player Atereana Kahukura all wrapped up.
Manly player Eli Pouli
Manly player Eli Pouli
North Coast’s Cai Garrett and Central West’s Ben Willner.
North Coast’s Cai Garrett and Central West’s Ben Willner.
Southern Inland’s Sophie Boxsell and Illawarraa’s Elizabeth Davis
Southern Inland’s Sophie Boxsell and Illawarraa’s Elizabeth Davis
Manly’s Hudson Swan
Manly’s Hudson Swan
: Randwick player Kiki Maafu
: Randwick player Kiki Maafu
Far North Coast’s James Quinton
Far North Coast’s James Quinton
Southern Inland player Atereana Kahukura
Southern Inland player Atereana Kahukura
Far North Coast’s Thomas Binney
Far North Coast’s Thomas Binney
Illawarra’s Darcy Attwell
Illawarra’s Darcy Attwell
Warringah’s Zsa Zsa Bourke
Warringah’s Zsa Zsa Bourke
Warringah take to the field in the 16s. .
Warringah take to the field in the 16s. .
Central West’s Hugh Czyzewski
Central West’s Hugh Czyzewski
Illawarra’ss Hat Yan Lu against Manly. .
Illawarra’ss Hat Yan Lu against Manly. .
Far North Coasts James Quinton
Far North Coasts James Quinton

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Amanda Lulham
Amanda LulhamSports Writer

Amanda Lulham loves all things on and in the water from sailing surfing and kayaking to canoeing, ironman, triathlon and diving as well as, netball, basketball, rugby and sport in general - and the people who play it at the highest level... (other fields)

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/photo-gallery-of-nsws-rising-stars-in-u16-u18s-girls-boys-junior-state-rugby-championships-2025/news-story/a253bc5ac63d86549b4ff85406367868