3 Oct 2022

Competitive rugby matches to be phased out for children in Australia

From Checkpoint, 5:27 pm on 3 October 2022

Across the ditch there will be no official winners or losers in junior rugby league in fact no score kept at all in a significant shake up of the sport in New South Wales.

In a plan reportedly signed off by the NRL and New South Wales Rugby League there will be a staged phasing out of competitive matches for children under the age of thirteen.

Meaning no-one will keep score - which is currently the case in games for under 8s.

The change is aimed at reducing pressure on young players and increasing participation in the sport.

NZ rugby league's General Manager of Community and Programmes Ani Cherrington joins Lisa Owen.