Championship Eligibility
Player Eligibility
To be eligible to compete in the Championship, all players MUST be:
(a) (i) 18 years of age on or before the first match day; or
(ii) 16 years of age or over on the 1st January in the year of the championship (DOB 1996); and eligible for an exception to play Senior Rugby under the ARU Senior Rugby Policy. (A Senior Rugby Consent Form and ARU approval to play in Front Row - if applicable - must be submitted with declaration of team).
If submission is approved, all Team Management must complete the relevant ‘Working with Children’ paperwork for their State and submit it to their State Union;
(b) currently registered for the club association and/or the Participating Union they represent; and
(c) registered for the Participating Team on the Team Registration Form (Appendix 3).
Composition of Teams
The composition of the teams to represent each participating Union shall consist of a squad of up to 12 players. The squad must comply with the IRB Laws of the Game of Rugby Union, including the Seven-a-Side Law Variations.
Note there must be three (3) players who can play in the front row. Any front row replacements’ must be suitably trained and experienced.
Championship Rules
IRB Laws of the Game
All matches shall be played in accordance with IRB Laws of the Game of Rugby Union, including the Seven-a-Side Law Variations. (A copy of the Seven-a-Side Law Variations applicable to matches in this Championship is included as Appendix 4).
Duration of Matches
The duration of all pool and semi final matches will be 7-minutes each half with a 1-minute half time. The duration of the Shield, Bowl, Plate and Cup Final matches will be 10-minutes each half with a 2-minute half time. The match referee shall be responsible for keeping time.
Extra Time
NO extra time will be played during the pool and semi final matches, even in the event of a match being drawn at the end of normal time; no extra time will be played. In all finals where there is a drawn match and extra time is required, after a break of one minute the extra time is played in periods of five minutes. After each period, the teams change ends without interval.
Pool Points Calculation
All teams in each Pool will play each other on a round robin basis. Championship Points will be awarded for the matches on the following basis:
| Win |
4 points |
| Draw |
2 points |
| Loss |
1 point for loss within 7 points or less of the team that wins |
| Loss |
0 points for a loss more than 7 points |
| Bonus |
1 point for 4 tries or more |
Championship Format and Draw
The Championship will be divided into four pools - A & B of four teams each, C & D of three teams each:
Pool A & B, C & D
Pool A & B teams will compete in two separate 4-team round robin competitions, with each team playing three matches. Upon the conclusion of these matches teams will be ranked 1-4 based on finishing positions from the pool matches. Pool C & D will compete in two round robin competitions with the final pool game being a cross over pool match. The teams will all be ranked in their pools following these pool matches. The lowest ranked overall two teams (13th & 14th) from pools A, B, C or D will automatically contest the Shield Final. The remaining teams will progress to the Cup, Plate and Bowl semi final knockout stages.
Final knockout stages
Bowl
Pool A-D teams ranked 3rd (9th-12th) overall after the completion of their respective pool matches will play in the Bowl Semi Finals.
The winner of each semi final progressing to the Bowl Final.
Plate
Pool A-D teams ranked 2nd (5th-8th) overall after the completion of their respective pool matches will play in the Plate Semi Finals.
The winner of each semi final progressing to the Plate Final.
Cup
Pool A-D teams ranked top (1st-4th) overall after the completion of their respective pool matches will play in the Cup Semi Finals.
The winner of each semi final progressing to the Cup Final.
The latest Championship match results can be found below during the tournament.