Rugby Victoria, in partnership with Rugby Australia, is excited to announce the introduction of a new Under-85kg Senior grade competition for the 2025 season.
This pilot program will provide an inclusive and accessible opportunity for school leavers, university students, and other interested participants to continue their rugby journey in a modified, limited-weight format.
The initiative takes inspiration from the success of similar competitions overseas and aims to cater to players who may not have previously had the chance to play due to traditional weight categories. The new competition will be a pilot for Senior Men’s players, helping to foster greater participation in rugby and keep more people in the game.
The U85kg competition has been designed with three main goals:
- Foster Enjoyment: To provide a fun and engaging rugby experience for all players.
- Retain Players: To keep players in the game who might have been considering leaving.
- Return Players: To encourage former players who have stepped away from rugby to return to the field.
The competition will target school rugby leavers, university students, and special interest groups. While existing clubs and players are welcome to participate, the focus is on engaging new and returning players who may have previously felt excluded from traditional weight-based formats.
The U85kg competition will run from March to May 2025, with matches taking place on Wednesday evenings at La Trobe Sports Park. Teams will compete across 6-10 rounds, with 4-6 teams expected to take part. The pilot will offer a relaxed yet competitive environment, with match rules adjusted to accommodate the limited-weight format.
The competition will follow the standard World Rugby XVs Laws, with a few important variations:
- Players must weigh in at under 85kg to participate.
- There will be a 1.5-metre scrum push limit to ensure a safer, fairer scrum.
- Rolling substitutions will be allowed, with no limit on how often players can enter and exit the field.
Rugby Victoria is thrilled about the launch of this new competition and believes it will help grow the sport in new ways, keeping rugby accessible to more players. This pilot initiative is in line with Rugby Australia’s broader goals of growing the game at the grassroots level and ensuring that every player—regardless of size—has the opportunity to get involved in rugby.
With matches kicking off in March 2025, the U85kg Senior grade pilot is sure to create excitement within the rugby community, and Rugby Victoria hopes it will lead to more opportunities for players to enjoy the sport for years to come.
For more information and updates on the pilot competition, please visit the Rugby Victoria U85kg website: vic.rugby/u85kg
