Two teams will represent NSW and linked with the two NRC representative sides, NSW Country Eagles Under 19s and Sydney Under 19s.
The URC will create a clearer pathway for players into the Junior Wallabies squad and move the season to fit better with the international Under 20s calendar, club and school rugby programmes.
The NSW Country Eagles Under 19s and Sydney Under 19s sides will compete against the Western Force Under 19s, Melbourne Rebels Under 19s, Brisbane Under 19s, Queensland Country Under 19s and the Australian Barbarians Under 19s.
The new national age grade competition will provide more game and preparation time for the Junior Wallabies with an extended squad picked in October, to prepare for the World Rugby Under 20s Championship, which is held in June each year. In addition, players will also spend more time in a high-performance programme at Under 19s and Under 20s level.
The inaugural URC will be held in Canberra from 28 September to 5 October with players staying and training at the world-class Australian Institute of Sport.
The two NSW sides had trials at the Camden Rugby Club last week, which featured the NSW Country Cockatoo Under 19s side and five Generation Blue Under 19s sides .
“The trials in Camden gave the Generation Blue coaching staff the best opportunity to see the best Under 19s players in NSW. As a coaching unit, we will now select the Under 19s sides for both NSW Country Eagles and Sydney to compete in the URC competition starting in late September,” said NSW Waratahs Elite Pathways Manager, Pat McCutcheon,
McCutcheon explains the URC’s significance in terms of its role in developing emerging talent within NSW.
“The addition of the URC competition has helped streamline the pathway for aspiring players in NSW. It provides the perfect springboard for athletes to progress to higher honours, including Junior Wallabies and also for a spot in our Generation Blue Under 20s programme,” he said.
Rugby Australia Head of National XVs Programmes, Adrian Thompson, said: “The Under 19s Rugby Championship will give us an earlier opportunity to identify them for the Junior Wallabies. It will also provide the States more opportunities to see their up and coming players play more regularly.
“The timing of the URC will give us opportunity to identify players for the Junior Wallabies earlier and for a lot of School leavers, they will be able to go into a representative program first year out of school.
“19-year-olds will be able to focus on their Club Rugby or School Rugby and then there will be a 4-6-week period to prepare for this Championship and move into the Junior Wallabies Squad.
“It will provide more opportunities for players to be seen by Super Rugby teams.”
The Under 19s Rugby Championship is a part of the Pathway to Gold programme, including the Junior Gold Cup (Under 15s) and the National Under 16s Championship leading into the Junior Wallabies.
The NSW Waratahs return home to Allianz Stadium to face the Sunwolves on July 7 for their round 18 Vodafone Super Rugby clash. To secure your seat, head this way.
