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  • At the Norths Pirates, we encourage our coaches to follow our Club coaching philosophy which involves:
    • Skills development
    • Fair play
    • Health and safety
    • Sportmanship and friendship
    • Teamwork
    • Fun
    • Fair and reasonable game time for all players
    • Running rugby with all players having an opportunity to handle the ball
  • To get the best out of your players and ensure you do not lose their attention, preparation for training sessions is key
  • Rugby Australia coaching courses, tips and session planning available at SmartRugby – to be a coach or referee in Australia SmartRugby is the minimum qualification required. Courses are online via your Rugby Xplorer login myaccount.rugbyxplorer.com.au/, select Learning Centre, which will take you into Rugby Learning Centre, then Browse Learning
  • If you are interested in finding out more or would like to enquire about coaching, please contact the Club’s coaching coordinator
  • Northern Suburbs Junior Rugby consists of four Norths village clubs – Drummoyne, Hunters Hill, Mosman, Norths Pirates
  • U6-U9 teams play in the Gordon District Minis comp. Their games are on Saturday mornings, with 1 or 2 games on Sunday mornings
  • U10-U16 teams play in the Sydney Junior Rugby Union (SJRU) competition. Their games are on Sundays (and some Friday evenings). This is a graded competition
  • The season runs from April to August
U6U7U8U9U10U11
Player Numbers5-a-side TriTag6-a-side TriTag7-a-side tackle10-a-side tackle12-a-side tackle15-a-side tackle
Player Area1/4 field L:40m, W:25m1/2 field L:60m, W:35mFull field less 10m L:100m, W:60mFull field L:100m, W:70m
Playing TimeSkills Activities 2 x 10min halves2 x 15mins2 x 15mins2 x 20mins2 x 20mins2 x 25mins
Ball SizeSize 3Size 3Size 4Size 4
ConversionsNoOptional In front, 10m backYes Not past 15m-lineYes Not past 15m-line
Kick-offPunt 5m Exclusion zonePunt or drop 5m Exclusion zoneDropDrop
Restart after scoreTap on half way by non-scoring teamTap on half way by non-scoring teamKick-off by non-scoring teamKick-off by non-scoring team
KickingNoNoYesYes
TackleTriTag grabbed off hips. 3rd tag clean out progression for U7s – defence 3m backYesYesYes
LineoutTap restart2 players No contest2 players No contest4 players No contest5 players Contested. No lifting7 players Contested. No lifting
Lineout ReceiverTap restartMust passMust passAll optionsAll options
ScrumTap restart3 players No contest3 players No contest5 players No contest6 players Contested 1m push8 players Contested 1m push
Scrum HalfTap restartMust passMust passAll options No.8 moves illegalAll options
Lineout & Scrum over when?Played by fly-half or bouncesPlayed by fly-half or bouncesBall outBall out
Penalty Kicks & Free KicksTap only Opp 5m backTap only Opp 5m backAll options Opp 10m backAll options Opp 10m back
Under 6s
  • First year of rugby union with a strong emphasis on participation, enjoyment and making new friends from the district
  • 5 players on the field at a time
  • There is no tackle or ruck/maul but a two handed grab low (tag) on the shorts
  • Games are played on a quarter of full field
  • Playing time is 2 x 10 mins
Under 7s
  • The children continue for another year with the introduction of non contested three person scrums and two person line outs
  • The development is centred around catch and pass and again with a strong emphasis on participation and having fun
  • 6 players on the field at a time
  • Games are played on a quarter pitch size
  • Playing time is 2 x 15 mins 
Under 8s
  • First introduction of tackle and the ruck contest
  • 7 players on the field at a time
  • Games are played on half size field with more room to run
  • Playing time is 2 x 15 mins
  • The safe practices of the tackle and ruck maul are taught by “Smart Rugby” accredited coaches
Under 9s
  • Whilst still on half size field, the team increases to 10 with 5 person scrum and 5 backs
  • More positional play is encouraged but with uncontested scrum and line out
  • Playing time is 2 x 20 mins
  • The opportunity remains for everyone to safely try all positions on the field
Under 10s
  • The games are played on Sundays with grading for the first time
  • The competition covers the Sydney Metropolitan area on a home and away basis
  • Games are competitive scrums and line outs with 12 players on each team
  • The field is almost full field, only 10m narrower (5m each side)
  • Playing time is 2 x 20 mins
  • Conversions, kicks in general play and semi and grand finals are other changes to the first year of juniors
Under 11s
  • Same parameters as the U10s
  • The teams are regraded again to keep competitions fair and safe across the grades
Under 12s – 16s
  • 15 players on the field
  • Skills focus is on positional awareness
  • Full size field
  • Playing time is 2 x 25 mins

Committee Members 

PresidentAndrew Buntingpresident@northspirates.rugby0411 611 988
Vice PresidentLoren Thompsonvicepresident@northspirates.rugby0401 276 199
Minis DirectorCesare Caodurominis@northspirates.rugby0456 703 528

Age Group Managers (AGMs)

Team

Name

Email

Phone

U6

   

U7

Duncan Ritchie

d_a_ritchie@bigpond.com

0447 414 532

U8

Jono Rhydderch

j_rhydderch@hotmail.com

0415 812 424

U9

Kate Healy-Smith

kate.healy-smith@talentquarter.com

0421 915 955

    

U11

Michelle Lee

shell_s7@yahoo.com.au

0447 414 532

U12

   

U13

Tim Spencertimspencer0001@gmail.com 0400 822 442

U14

Andrew Chapmanandrew.chapman@maddocks.com.au  0409 851 192

U15

Adam Welsh

awelsh4@gmail.com

0410 548 438

To be advised 2024

Training Schedules 

Age-Group

Day

Time

U6

Thursday

5 – 6 pm

U7

Thursday

5 – 6 pm

U8

Thursday

5 – 6 pm

U9

Thursday

5 – 6 pm

U10

Wednesday

6 – 7 pm

U11

Wednesday

5:30 – 7 pm

U12

Wednesday

5:30 – 7 pm

U13

Wednesday

5.30 – 7 pm

U14

Wednesday

5:30 – 7 pm

U15

Wednesday

5:30 – 7 pm

Home Ground

Tunks Park Cammeray,
New South Wales


Training Ground

Primrose Park Cremorne,
New South Wales


HOW TO REGISTER

STEP 1

There are three key registration groups.

Under 6 and Under 7s → Tri-Tag Rugby – Modified version to help kids to understand the game with no contact.

Under 8 and Under 9s → Minis  – Modified Rugby where kids are introduced to tackling on small fields.

Under 10 – Under 16s → Graded SJRU Tackle Competition

Age is determined by the age the child will turn during their 2024 birthday. PLEASE NOTE that Rugby Xplorer may auto-assign the age group based on the birth date entered.

If your child wants to play in an age group above please contact James Stone (registrar@northspirates.rugby) to assist with team allocations.

STEP 2

We are delighted to accept NSW Active Kids vouchers as part of your payment. Please make sure you have this handy before commencing registration, as it cannot be added retrospectively.

Apply for an active kids voucher here.

STEP 3

Go to the Rugby Xplorer app, or https://myaccount.rugbyxplorer.com.au

Use your previous Rugby ID# to register if you are a returning player. This will appear under your name in the ‘My Profile’ screen in your Rugby Xplorer portal. This ID also appears under the participant’s name when choosing who to register. If you cannot remember your rugby ID#, you should be able to search using your linked email address.

If you have not registered previously, please create an account for yourself (the parent/guardian first – and then any child as linked accounts to your master account). Note, as this is a junior’s program, the system requires that parents/guardians must also have an account, and then the child will be automatically linked to the parent account as per previous registrations. If your child isn’t found and has registered before please search for them before creating a new account as they risk losing their historical data if you create a new ID.

Under 10’s and above are required to have a ‘public’ passport style photo (a requirement of the graded competition), so please snap your favourite photo of your son/daughter (head and shoulders), and upload it when you register.

More detailed instructions on how to use Rugby Xplorer can be viewed here.

If you have any other questions, please email James Stone at registrar@northspirates.rugby

All committee members are volunteers, but we will endeavor to get back to you as soon as possible. Please allow a little extra time over the holiday season.

We look forward to seeing you down at Tunks Park shortly.

REGISTRATION COSTS

Registration Fees are kept to a minimum; however, our costs continue to increase.   

Your fees contribute to.

  • Medical Services
  • Ground hire
  • Coaching courses
  • Qualified professional coaches
  • Playing Kit
  • Training Shirt
  • Insurance
  • SJRU Affiliation Fees
  • NSWRU Affiliation Fees
  • Entrance Fees for Gala Days

Active Kids Voucher can be used to contribute to the registration fee.

If you have any questions or issues with registration please contact James Stone (registrar@northspirates.rugby) on 0419 119 246


This is for the winter XVs competition only, for boys and girls.

Training nights:

Our minis will train at Primrose Park on Thursday evenings whilst our Juniors (Under 10 and above) will train on Wednesday evenings.

Your Age Group Co-ordinator will confirm times as we move closer to the season starting.

Pre-season training will commence on Sunday 25 February at Tunks Park for our younger players.

Competition for Minis and Juniors starts in late March 2024.

Please take a moment to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for instant updates as requires but most importantly sign up to our mailing list to ensure you get all the club news each week.

Pirate Post – Norths Pirates