The Emerging Schools Foundation Rugby have generated 11 competitions from Wagga Wagga in Southern Inland to Mackay in Queensland. 

In 2022 we will see new competitions in Western Plains NSW and North Queensland. 

The competition is the 1st Emerging Schools program to complete the 3-year program and looks towards an exciting future within the Downs Rugby participation landscape attracting both future participant and commercial support.

Darling Downs Super Schools Cup Logo

Darling Downs Super Schools Cup

Each participating school is partnered with a local Junior Rugby Club to provide a direct link to a playing future for potential players.  The competition is for boys under 14 to promote entry into under 15 teams in the local Club competition the following year.

Sunshine Coast Emerging Schools Cup Logo

Sunshine Coast Emerging Schools Cup

The Len Diett Shield is a 1st XV School Based competition (Under18) addressing the low number of 17-19 year old participants in regular Rugby on the Far North Coast. 

Len Diett Shield Logo

Len Diett Shield

The Steve Merrick Cup is a round robin competition for U16 Schoolboys Rugby teams in the Hunter. The Competition has grown from 8 schools competing in 2019 playing 10 a side rugby to 12 Team playing 15 a side in 2022. The Cup is named after Steve Merrick, the last player in the Hunter to play for the Wallabies while still playing in the Hunter local competition. Steve played two tests for the Wallabies in 1995 The competition was played over 4 Gala day events in term 2 and 3. Each team playing two games per day with Hunter Sports High School wining the final 12-8 against Tomaree High School.

Steve Merrick Cup Logo

Steve Merrick Cup

The 2018 program was a Pilot for the eventual Emerging Schools program which lead into a further 3 years of competitive rugby for 6 schools in the Moreton Bay Region. All the schools were new to Rugby, some had played 7s tournaments but none have participated in 15’s recently. There are four local clubs in the area that are aligned to the schools. They have pledged their resources to the competition.

Moreton Super 6 Schools Cup Logo

Moreton Bay Super 6 Rugby Cup

The Mackay Schools Cup commenced in 2020 after a pilot competition was held in 2019. The program provides competition for Under 15 males players but has conducted parallel competition for other age groups and females. age groups and genders.

Mackay Schools Cup Logo

Mackay Schools Rugby Cup

The Gold Coast Super Schools has operated since 2019 although the 2020 season was COVID19 affected, while the 2021 season was shortened by inclement weather events. 2022 will be the final year of funded programming establishing the competition as a pipeline for teenage Rugby on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Super Schools Logo

Gold Coast Super Schools

The competition is led by three Senior Clubs, CSU Reddies Rugby Club, Wagga City Rugby Club and Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club. Southern Inland Rugby Referee Association supported the program working with developing referees to help them grow into future officials.

Southern Inland logo

Wagga Wagga Super 6

The inaugural program was a response to the cessation of Rugby in the Greater Brisbane Conference Schools in 2019. Lead by 3 clubs (Sunnybank, Redlands and Yatala). The competition commenced in 2019 and was interrupted by COVID19 in 2020. 

Southside Super 6 Logo

Southside Super 6

The 15-a-side Cup was scheduled to debut in 2020, but its opening round was quashed by the initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic last March.  The 2021 edition had seven schools competing.

James grant Cup Image

James Grant Cup

There are seven Sports High Schools in NSW that provide opportunities for students who have potential to reach the elite level. The schools have flexible academic programs that assist developing athletes meet their training, competition and academic requirements.

Competitions