Australian schools, national junior rugby titles guide: Future Wallabies, Olympians on show

Super Rugby talent ID gurus, coaches and footy scouts will be taking a keen interest in our future Wallabies, Wallaroos and Olympians at the Australian schools and national titles. Guide

A brilliant battle between states at last year’s Australian Schools Rugby Championship. Picture: Rachel Wright

Scouts, coaches and talent identification managers from Super Rugby franchises will be watching on with interest and intent from the sidelines when 49 teams of rugby’s rising stars from across Australia contest the biggest junior elite national tournament from Monday.

In a massive week-long extravaganza on the Sunshine Coast starting Monday, the well-established Australian schoolboys and schoolgirls championship - a renown nursery for future stars of the game - will be run concurrently with an Australian national championships for the first time.

The event will throw the spotlight on every state and territories rising stars of rugby, from both the XV and Sevens rugby format.

The new combined event will help create and showcase the biggest talent pool of teenage rugby stars in the under 18s and under 16s space ever seen at one event in Australian rugby.

It will also educate young players being courted by another code on rugby selling point - overseas touring for both junior and senior teams, the Olympic evens pathways and even the extension of careers with overseas clubs.

The tournament, also being used for coaching mentoring and referee match development, has 31 teams competing in XVs competitions and 18 in sevens tournaments.

“We expect there will be scouts there,” said Rugby Australia tournament director Pete Garden.

“We know they will be talent ID people from the franchises, particularly in the under 18s space.

“This is a key event for them to identify players for the Australian Under 18s and also the Super Rugby under 16s and Super Rugby under 19 teams.’’

NSW playing a Barbarians side at a previous event. Picture: Julian Andrews

The Australian schoolboys and schoolgirls event in the past has helped identify some of the biggest names in rugby - and league - including Matt Burke, Tim Horan and Mark, Glen and Gary Ella and rugby league greats including Wally Lewis and Ricky Stewart and Brett Papworth.

More recently the likes of code jumper Zach Fittler, Max Jorgensen and new Junior Wallabies captain Eamon Doyle have played at the schools tournament.

Australian schoolgirl squads and teams in recent times have boasted just about every member of the Wallaroos, including schoolgirl sensation Waiaria Ellis and and Caitlyn Halse

Action from last year’s schools championships. Picture: Rachel Wright.

The Australian schools event is 50 plus years old with the schoolgirls competitions included after Covid restrictions were lifted.

National events have in the past been run predominantly for non Super Rugby junior teams including South Australia and Tasmanian.

“The advantage is it makes sense to bring all the junior talent together in one place now,’’ Garden said of the week-long event.

“We get to pool resources, we have coaching mentoring there as well and match development with referees.’’

Garden said the event also shines a light on the international opportunities for young footballers who can represent their country, travel the world, vie for Olympics and potentially extend a carer by playing overseas at top clubs in Europe, Japan and New Zealand.

“In sports like AFL, if you want to excel you play in Australia,’’ Garden said.

“The same with rugby league along with New Zealand and England.

“In rugby union you have the world at your feet. It is a global game.’’

There are traditionally some torrid battles between top states, NSW and Queensland. Picture: Julian Andrews

TEAMS AND THEIR EVENTS

Australian Schools Rugby Union championship teams

Under 18 boys XV: Eight teams: Queensland 1, Queensland II, NSW I, NSW II, NSWJRU, ACT, Victoria, Western Australia.

Under 18 girls 7s: 10 teams: Queensland Maroons, Queensland White, NSW 1, NSW II, ACT, Victoria, Northern Territory, Western Australia Lloydies Combined States.

Under 16 Girls 7s: Eight teams: Queensland Maroons, Queensland White, NSW I, NSW II, Victoria, Northern Territory, Western Australia, Lloydies.

A Barbarians and ACT game at the Australian schools.

National Junior rugby championships

NJRCU 18 boys XV: Six teams: The Associated Schools and NSW Barbarians, Victoria U17, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory.

NJRCU 18 Girls XV: Six teams: Brisbane City, Qld Country, Sydney Juniors, NSW Country, South Australia, Rugby WA.

NJRCU 16 boys XV: Five teams: Brisbane City, Qld Country, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory.

NJRCU 16 Girls XV: Six teams: Brisbane City, Queensland Country, Sydney Juniors, NSW Country, SA, Combined.

Some of our rising stars at last years event. Picture: Rachel Wright.

Australian Schools Rugby Championships draw

DRAW BOYS XVs

Monday July 7

10am - QLD 2 v NSW 2 - Main Stadium - Match 1

11.30am - ACT v NSW 1 - Main Stadium - Match 2

1pm - NSWJRU v VIC - Main Stadium - Match 3

2.30pm - QLD 1 v WA - Main Stadium - Match 4

Tuesday July 8

10am - Loser 1 v Loser 3 - Field 7 - Match 5

11.30am - Loser 2 v Loser 4 - Field 7 - Match 6

1pm - Winner 1 v Winner 3 - Field 7 - Match 7

2.30pm - Winner 2 v Winner 4 - Field 7 - Match 8

Wednesday July 9 REST DAY

Rest Day

Thursday July 10

8:30am - Loser 5 v Loser 6 - Field 3 - Match 9

9:50am - Winner 5 v Winner 6 - Field - Match 10

11:10am - Loser 7 v Loser 8 - Field 3 - Match 11

1:30pm - BOYS FINAL - Winner 7 v Winner 8- Main Stadium - Match 12

Sydney player Max Roach gets up-ended at an Australian schools. Picture: Julian Andrews

DRAW GIRLS SEVENS : U18s, U16s

U18 Pool A: NSW 1, QLD White, ACT, VIC, WA

U18 Pool B: QLD Maroon, NSW 2, Lloyd McDermott, NT, Combined Eastern

U16 Pools : To be Finalised

Friday July 11

Matches start at 9.00am (U16 & U18 Sevens)

Saturday July 12

Matches start at 9.00am (U16 & U18 Sevens)

Sunday July 13

Matches start at 10.00am (U16 & U18)

12:12pm U16 Girls Sevens Final

12:40pm U18 Girls Sevens Final

DRAW SUBJECT TO CHANGE, MORE TO COME

Action from day three of the 2024 Australian Schools Rugby Championships. Picture: Anthony Edgar.

NATIONAL JUNIOR RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS

MONDAY

10am U18 Boys: NSWJRU v T.A.S.

11:30am U18 Boys NT v SA

1pm U18 Boys: Tasmania v VIC U17

TUESDAY

11:30am U18 Boys VIC U17 v NSWJRU

1pm U18 Boys SA v Tasmania

2:30pm U18 Boys TAS v NT

11:30am U18 Boys VIC U17 v NSWJRU

1:00pm U18 Boys SA v Tasmania

2:30pm U18 Boys T.A.S.v NT3

WEDNESDAY

9am U18 Girls Brisbane City v Rugby WA

10am U18 Girls Sydney Juniors v SA

11am U18 Girls QLD Country v Brisbane City

12pm U18 Girls NSW Country v Sydney Juniors

1pm U18 Girls Rugby WA v QLD Country

2pm U18 Girls SA v NSW Country

9am U16 Girls Sydney Juniors v SA

10am U16 Girls Brisbane City v Combined (TAS)

11am U16 Girls NSW Country v Sydney Juniors

12pm U16 Girls QLD Country v Brisbane City

1pm U16 Girls SA v NSW Country

2pm U16 Girls Combined (TAS) v QLD Country

9am U16 Boys Tasmania v NT

10am U16 Boys SA v Brisbane City

11am U16 Boys NT v QLD Country

12pm U16 Boys Brisbane City v Tasmania

1pm U16 Boys QLD Country v SA

THURSDAY

8:30am U18 Girls Pool A 3rd v Pool B 3rd

9:50am U16 Girls Pool A 3rd v Pool B 3rd

10am U18 Girls Pool A 1st v Pool B 1st

11am U16 Girls Pool A 2nd v Pool B 2nd

12:10pm U16 Girls Pool A 1st v Pool B 1st

1:20pm Presentations - U16 and U18 Girls

8:30am U16 Boys Tasmania v SA

9:30am U16 Boys NT v Brisbane City

10:30am U16 Boys QLD Country v Tasmania

11.30am U16 Boys SA v NT

12:30am U16 Boys Brisbane City v QLD Country

8:30am U18 Girls Pool A 2nd v Pool B 2nd

9:50am NJRC U18 Boys Pool A 3rd V Pool B 3rd

11:10am NJRC U18 Boy Pool A 2nd v Pool B 2nd

12:10pm FINAL

READ MORE RUGBY HERE

Originally published as Australian schools, national junior rugby titles guide: Future Wallabies, Olympians on show