Parents
Volunteering with the club allows you to be part of your child's experience, be part of the community and have some fun.
About Hills Junior Rugby Union Club
Hills Junior Rugby Union Club (HJRU) is the oldest, and one of the largest, Junior Rugby Union Clubs in North West Sydney. The Club’s mission is to promote the global game of Rugby Union by attracting, retaining, growing and developing players at all ages, underpinned by strong partnerships with the local community, and through sound business management.
HJRU offers both a Minis (U6-U9) Program, and a Juniors (U10-U17) Program, for boys and girls from 4 years of age. The Club’s Ground is at Yattenden Park in John St, Baulkham Hills.
Club & Team Management for Season 2024
The Club’s Management Team for 2024 is President (Anthony Kearney - 0404 843 060), Vice-President (Trevor Marshall - 0407 349 075), Secretary (Kerrie Brown - 0439 785 005), Treasurer (Kerri Brinnand - 0412 378 029), VP-Juniors (Joel Brooke - 0422 270 484), VP-Minis (Chloe Kearney - 0421 413 051).
All Teams will have a Coach (and some may also have an Assistant Coach where parents are keen to put their hand up!) and a Team Manager who communicates directly with the parent/carer group for each team throughout the season.
The Minis Program (U6-U9)
HJRU’s Minis Program has been developed in alignment with the Rugby Australia’s TryRugby Kids Pathway and associated Laws of the Game, which provides a series of age-specific modified rugby games. The key features of each game style are outlined below:
Walla Rugby U6/U7 – play on a ¼ size field, 7 aside, 2 handed ‘tag’ on the shorts, 2x10min halves (15min for U7), ball size 2, no conversions or general kicking. No tackles. Skills focus is on evasion and tag, catch and pass, running, scoring tries and enjoyment.
Mini Rugby U8 – play on a ½ size field, 7 aside, introduces the tackle and uncontested 3-person scrum and 2-person lineout, 2x15min halves, ball size 3, conversions optional, no general kicking. Skills focus is on tackle, ruck and maul. Players start to develop positional play as forwards or backs.
Mini Rugby U9 – play on a ½ size field, 10 aside, further develops the tackle and uncontested 5-person scrum and 4-person lineout, 2x20min halves, ball size 3, conversions optional, no general kicking. Skills focus is on attack and defence.
The Juniors Program (U10-U17)
HJRU’s Juniors Program continues the progression from the Kids Pathway through to Junior Representative opportunities at the Club, District, State and National levels. Depending on registrations, Teams may form in the Under 10 to the Under 18 Age Groups. The key features of each game style are outlined below:
Under 10/11 – play on full field less 10m width, 12 aside on field (min 10), max 18 players in sign-on team, tackle, 6-person contested scrum (1m push, doesn’t have to pass, No.8 moves illegal, formed as 3-2-1) and 5-person contested lineout (no lifting, doesn’t have to pass), 2x20min halves, ball size 4, conversions, general kicking allowed. Skills focus is on kicking in general play and the contested scrum and lineout.
Under 12 – play on full field, 15 aside on field (min 12), max 23 players in sign-on team, tackle, 8-person contested scrum (1m push, doesn’t have to pass, formed as 3-4-1) and 7-person contested lineout (no lifting, doesn’t have to pass), 2x25min halves, ball size 4, conversions, general kicking allowed. Skills focus is on positional awareness.
Under 13/14 – play on full field, 15 aside on field (min 12), max 23 players in sign-on team, tackle, 8-person contested scrum (1m push, doesn’t have to pass, formed as 3-4-1) and 2+ person contested lineout (lifting with shorts, doesn’t have to pass), 2x25min halves, ball size 5, conversions, general kicking allowed.
Under 15/16 – play on full field, 15 aside on field (min 12), max 23 players in sign-on team, tackle, 8-person contested scrum (1m push, doesn’t have to pass, formed as 3-4-1) and 2+ person contested lineout (lifting with shorts in 15s/ with thighs in 16s, doesn’t have to pass), 2x30min halves, ball size 5, conversions, general kicking allowed.
Under 17/18 (OPENS) – play on full field, 15 aside on field (min 12), max 23 players in sign-on team, tackle, 8-person contested scrum (1m push, doesn’t have to pass, formed as 3-4-1) and 2+ person contested lineout (lifting with thighs, doesn’t have to pass), 2x35min halves, ball size 5, conversions, general kicking allowed.
Working with Children Policy
Hills Junior Rugby Club is committed to ensuring that the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children are maintained at all times during their participation in rugby and any other activities run by the Club. The Club ensures that all Club officials who have contact with children or young persons (irrespective of whether it includes their child or not) complete a Working with Children check.
To apply for your online Working with Children accreditation head to -
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-working-children-check
Special Events
Each season the Club has a few special events as outlined below. Further details will be published throughout the year.
King of the Hills – KOTH is a prestigious annual event that the Club runs for Sydney wide Under 8s & Under 9s teams. It is a competitive tournament that all of our u8s & u9s are able to try out for. The KOTH coaches will select the best players from each age group who try out, to represent our Club. The players are required to do additional training in the lead up to the day. And all of their parents are required to volunteer their time to help out on the day as well. The u8s competition is held in the morning and the u9s in the afternoon. Scheduled for Sunday 30 June 2024.
Waratahs March Past – This is an event run by Sydney Juniors which gives the kids an opportunity to march around Allianz Stadium before one of the Waratahs home games during the Super Rugby competition. The date for the 2024 event has not yet been confirmed.
Under 12’s Tour – In the July school holidays each year our Under 12’s go on a tour. It is a great bonding experience for the boys and they have the chance to play a couple of games against some local teams. The team participates in a number of other activities whilst on tour. This trip is made possible by the team doing several team based fundraising activities throughout the season.
Presentation Day – At the end of every season we hold our Presentation Day. All Mini’s players will receive a participation trophy. All Junior players whose Teams make the Finals Series (Plate Final and/or Semi/Grand Finals) will receive either a medallion or trophy depending on where their team places in the season. Presentation Day is a great day for the clubs families to come together and socialise.
Wet Weather
In the case of wet weather your Manager/ Coach will contact you with the details regarding whether training/games are still going ahead.
Training:
If Council closes the ground, training is not allowed to go ahead at Yattenden. However some coaches may seek an alternate venue and/or training option, so you need to ensure you check with your Team's Coach and/or Manager first.
Games:
Games maybe transferred to another location where possible as other councils may have their grounds open. Please do not assume that games are cancelled just because the ground is closed, wait for your Manager/ Coach to contact you.
Where the Council has advised that grounds are open at the 'Clubs Discretion' the Committee will let all Coaches and Managers know whether they are allowed on the ground for training or games.