Each year (in August) Hunters Hill Junior Rugby Union Club hosts a tournament for the under 9 age group to play a one off gala, held under lights, on a Friday night at Boronia Park. The aim of the tournament is to give the under 9's players (and more importantly their parents) a bit of exposure as to what to expect the following year when they start playing SJRU competition rugby in the under 10's.
The format is to play "under 10" rules and field size in a round robin tournament. Teams will be 12 players per side with unlimited interchange. So we encourage you to bring a bigger squad if you can. Each team will get a minimum of 3 pool games with the top sides in each pool then competing for the "Dufficy Cup" in a final.
The Pantheon of Champions
The games will be played under SJRU / Pathway U10 rules, with the exception that there will be uncontested scrums (as the boys haven't learnt that skill as yet). It is full field (with sidelines in 5m) and the boys can use all the skills in the game ie kicking in general play etc. There will be conversions but to save time these will be drop goals only. There is no extra time or injury time.
This tournament is all about providing an opportunity for players to experience the U10’s and what they can expect next year when they move in graded / competition rugby.
But to be honest it is probably just as much about showing the parents and coaches what to expect as well. Plus what involvement is expected of them in competition rugby. Things like managers using Rugby Xplorer (RX), providing an Assistant Referee and doing substitutions thru the AR, and providing a Ground Marshall will be new to them.
And of course the big one - Respect Rugby!
The tournament had its start way back in 2007 when the Hunters Hill Age Coordinator Rod Dufficy had the idea to organize the first one. But then it missed a couple of years before in 2011 then Hunters Hill President Ben Gregory and the Juniors committee decided to re-establish it and named it after the founder Rod Dufficy. From there it has been a regular fixture on the calendar and in recent years the club has run multiple events to meet the demand.
Unfortunately we are limited to a limit of EIGHT teams for each event (as limited space under lights). As this is usually quite popular the spots are generally taken within hours of nominations opening.
