About

About

Sydney Junior Rugby Union (SJRU) is the governing body for all junior club rugby union in Sydney and is responsible for organising regular competition Rugby matches for over 60 Clubs and more than 12,000 players aged from Under 6 to Under 18.

The metropolitan area of Sydney is divided into 12 Districts with each of the 60 Clubs affiliated to a District. While players from U6 to U9 play in Minis Competitions organised by their District, SJRU centrally organises and manages the competition for U10 through to opens.

SJRU is affiliated with NSW Junior Rugby Union (NSWJRU) and New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU).

  • These are kids
  • This is a game
  • The coaches are volunteers
  • The referees are human
  • This is not the World Cup
  • ITS THEIR GAME
  • LET THEM PLAY

To strategically devise a new approach that actions change and is inclusive of all our clubs, simplifying what is needed, and bringing back the enjoyment and passion for Rugby Union without any other conflicts or agendas.

To simply grow our game, with a complete focus on real investment in junior clubs across Sydney.

The main considerations are:

  • Registration and competition systems that support our clubs with updated functionality and capabilities.
  • Strategic Planning – Giving a voice to every club.
  • SJRU Board will be accountable, and will have clear KPI’s to deliver, and must be progressive and share the same general vision to grow and improve our game at the core.
  • Weight for Age is an ongoing and topical issue that sees a predicament for many smaller clubs and some clubs would be affected more than others. Our goal is to find the best way forward, in a consultative manner with ALL clubs and to find a solution to create a safe and competitive playing environment.
  • Investment – We will be investing funds into the Sydney Junior Rugby Clubs and continuing to do this in the long term.
  • SJRU will focus on providing a professional website and social media presence,  to provide real time, relevant information to clubs and especially to players.

Our passion is for the game of Rugby and keeping our juniors playing in a meaningful, competitive and enjoyable competition and actioning key ways to facilitate that and deliver that to ALL clubs.

SJRU Core Values incorporating the ‘SJRU Spirit of Rugby’

We all have a collective responsibility to ensure that the unique spirit and ethos of the game of rugby is upheld and that we take a responsible attitude and duty of care towards ourselves and each other. Our core values include:

  • Integrity: Integrity is central to the fabric of the game of rugby and is generated through honesty and fair play.
  • Passion: The rugby fraternity have a passionate enthusiasm for the game of rugby. Rugby generates excitement, emotional attachment and a sense of belonging to the rugby family.
  • Solidarity: Rugby provides a unifying spirit that leads to lifelong friendships, camaraderie, teamwork and loyalty, which transcends cultural, geographic, political and religious differences.
  • Discipline: Discipline is an integral part of the game of rugby both on and off the field and is reflected through the adherence to the SJRU Competition Rules, SJRU Match Day Manual, SJRU Constitution, the Laws of the Game and rugby’s core values. Strong discipline underpins our game of rugby. We ensure that our sport is one of controlled physical endeavour and that we are honest and fair. We obey the Laws of Rugby, which ensure an inclusive and exciting global game of rugby. We support our disciplinary system, which protects our sport and upholds its values. We observe the sport’s laws and regulations and report serious breaches.
  • Teamwork: Teamwork is essential to our game of rugby. We welcome all new team members and include all because working as a team enriches our lives. We play selflessly, working for the team, not for ourselves alone, both on and off the field. We take pride in our team, rely on one another and understand that each player has a part to play. We speak out if our team or game of rugby is threatened by inappropriate words or actions.
  • Respect: Mutual respect forms the basis of our game of rugby. We hold in high esteem our game of rugby, its values and traditions and earn the respect of others in the way we behave. We respect our Match Officials and accept their decisions. We respect opposition players and supporters. We value our coaches and those who run our Districts / Clubs and treat our clubhouses with consideration.
  • Enjoyment: Enjoyment is the reason we play and support the game of rugby. We encourage players to enjoy training and playing. We use our game of rugby to adopt a healthy lifestyle and build life skills. We safeguard our young players and help them have fun. We enjoy being part of a team and part of the rugby family.
  • Sportsmanship: Sportsmanship is the foundation upon which rugby is built. We uphold the rugby tradition of camaraderie with teammates and opposition. We observe fair play both on and off the pitch and are generous in victory and dignified in defeat. We play to win but not at all cost and recognise both endeavour and achievement. We ensure that the wellbeing and development of individual players is central to all rugby activity.

The SJRU Competition Rules and Constitution protect and promote the game of rugby, its values, spirit and ethos. However the SJRU Competition Rules cannot be, and will not be, prescriptive in relation to every particular issue that may arise in the management of SJRU Competitions and the game of rugby. Therefore if a particular issue is not dealt with prescriptively in the SJRU Competition Rules and / or the SJRU Match Day Manual and / or the SJRU Constitution then the Competition Manager will make a decision in relation to the issue by adopting the SJRU’s Core Values Incorporating the “SJRU’s Spirit of Rugby”.

The SJRU Annual Reports can be found here.

Our Team
  • SJRU Chairman: Anthony Hunt
  • Competition (Sunday): Fiona Lawson
  • Competition (Friday/Saturday): Daniel Smith
  • Director Girls and 7s: June Manu
  • Partnerships/Social Media: Michelle Taylor
  • Development: Marcus Stock
  • Reps Directors: Paul Rathborne
  • Zone Directors:
    • Northern Zone: Michelle Biet
    • Western Zone: John Polley
    • Southern Zone: Nicole Roberts
  • NSW Rugby Contacts
    • SJRU Competition Manager: John Glen
    • SJRU Competition Assistant: Andrew Hutton
Vacant Roles
  • Girls & 7’s Admin Role
  • Finance
  • Sunday Competition
  • Minis
  • Secretary