Player Information & FAQ’s

All regular season Rugby Union games in the ACTJRU competition are played on Saturdays.

To enable many games on one day, kick off times are dedicated to age groups starting at 08:45 AM for the Under 8 teams and running through to 15:00 for the Under 18 Division 1 teams.

Games are played on a home and away basis according to the draw which is found within the Rugby Xplorer App.

From Under 8 to Under 9, the competition is on a no league points basis with the focus being on fun and enjoyment of the game.

Games are played on a home and away basis according to the draw which is found within the Rugby Xplorer App. 

 From Under 8 to Under 9, the competition is on a no league points basis with the focus being on fun and enjoyment of the game.

Rugby is “all weather” and a winter sport. There will be times when it is cold wet and but sometimes it’s not prudent to send out small kids. Very, very occasionally games or training may be cancelled due to bad weather.

Where grounds are closed or it is particularly wet, coaches are highly encouraged to organize other training activities – such as sessions indoors including boxing, gym circuits, other active games such as basketball or swimming (indoor pools). Information can be obtained via the club website, Facebook page and your team manager.

The club will publish ground closures (weekday and weekend) on our Website and Facebook page. Team Managers are also responsible for informing teams where possible via email or SMS. ACT Sport Grounds also provide general ground closure information: Please contact ACT Sports Grounds information line (02) 6207 5957 or visit http://www.sport.act.gov.au/sportsgrounds for ground closure information.

Please note: that this information is only updated when grounds are closed and reopened, at 9am each weekday. However – please confirm directly with your manager/coach as other training activities may be organized in place of a field training session.

The regular ACTJRU season commences after the first school holidays of the year.

This is usually the first Saturday in May, and then continues to through to August, with September games for those teams who have made it to the Grand Finals.

There are generally no games scheduled for long weekends or school holiday periods.

Aside from our regular season we have many social events and key dates throughout the season, please click below to find out more.
View Key Dates – ( will be able to provide close to mid December 2024)

All players are provided with club shorts and socks as part of their registration.

These will be given out two weeks prior to the commencement of the season.

Jerseys are provided as a set to each team. These are kept together and not given to each individual player. Jersey’s are returned to the club at the end of the season.

Rugby Boots

The foundation of any rugby player’s performance is their footwear. Rugby boots are specifically designed to provide optimal traction, support, and stability on the field. They come in various styles, materials, and stud configurations to suit different playing positions and field conditions. 

Mouthguard

Rugby is a contact sport, and although injuries are very rare at the junior level, a quality mouthguard can protect the teeth and jaw from any impacts during tackles and collisions. We recommend purchasing the type that can be molded to your young players mouth. Click to see an example. 

As a club rule mouth garurds are regarded as compulsory for any contact training and games. 

Headgear (Optional)

While not mandatory in Rugby, wearing headgear can help reduce the risk of head injuries and concussions.  The expandable lace closure system and molded foam allows for a flexible fit to provide comfort, safety and stability for all head shapes and sizes. Click to see an example.  

How to Choose the Right Rugby Boots for You!

Having the right boots are the solid foundation of any Rugby player.

 When choosing Rugby boots, make sure to consider the following factors:

• Your playing position: Different positions require different levels of support and traction. Forwards need boots with more grip for scrums and rucks, while backs require lightweight boots for speed and agility.
• The type of pitch: Soft ground boots have longer studs for muddy conditions, while firm ground boots have shorter studs for dry, hard surfaces.
• Comfort and fit: Your boots should feel comfortable and snug, with enough room for your toes to move freely. We recommend visiting a local shop to try on boots rather than ordering online. 

The Vikings Junior Rugby community thrives on the active participation of its members in the club’s operations. Recognising and respecting the contributions of these individuals is crucial.

Volunteers are the backbone of Viking Juniors, with numerous opportunities to get involved as coaches, referees, first aiders, and general volunteers. At Viking Juniors, we are all volunteers dedicated to making Rugby a fantastic experience for our children.

Each team, across all age groups, requires at least a Coach, Manager, First Aid Officer, and Team Marshall. We encourage family members to consider volunteering for one of these essential roles.

We understand that committee members, coaches, managers, and other volunteers may not always make perfect decisions. However, our goal is to ensure decisions align with the club’s direction, culture, and values.

All volunteers must hold a current ACT Government ‘Working with Vulnerable People’ Card. All Volunteers in an official role at TVJRUFC must provide details of their WWVPC to TVJRUFC in order qualify to fill the role with the club. The WWVPC registration number must be recorded in Rugby Xplorer by the volunteer when they register as a volunteer.

Rugby Union is a popular global sport that’s values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect are upheld and entrenched with in the laws of the game. Played in contact and non-contact formats, Rugby is a team sport that delivers significant social and health benefits as well as elite and social competition.

Rugby can be a demanding sport and players should be physically and mentally prepared and understand how to play safely. It is the responsibility of all – players, coaches and parents – to ensure that a positive, safe, enjoyable environment is created for ALL players regardless of any perceived difference.

Put simply, rugby is a territorial invasion game where the team in possession of the ball seeks to advance the ball forward by running, kicking or passing (backwards) to teammates in the hope of scoring points. The main objective is to score a ‘try’, which is worth five points. Lesser scoring options include a ‘conversion’, which is attempted from a place kick after a try has been scored and is worth two points, or a ‘penalty goal’ which also occurs from a place kick at the spot the penalty was awarded and is worth three points, or a ‘drop goal’ which is when the ball is drop-kicked by a player through the uprights and over the cross-bar from general play and is also worth three points.

The role of the team without the ball is to prevent the advancement of the ball and to contest possession in contact areas such as the tackle, ruck, maul, re-starts and set-piece (scrum and line-out).

Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes and that is one of the sport’s main strengths and attractions because the sum of a team’s parts is always greater than any one individual. In rugby there are forwards, whose role and job it is generally to win the ball from the opposition and compete at most of the more contact-driven areas such as the scrum, the line-out, the ruck and the maul. Forwards tend to be heavier, more powerful players and taller for winning the ball at the line-out and the restart.

The backs are typically lighter and faster, and their game is based more on taking advantage of the space created by the work up front by the forwards. Even among the backs there are players who need to be better at passing, kicking, strategizing and simply running, so whatever size or shape, age or gender you are, there should be a position for you.

There are also non-contact forms of Rugby such as Touch 7s, Tri Tag Rugby and touch-tackle variations for those who do not wish to play any of the full-contact formats.

Rugby is a physical sport, but a sport that delivers significant social and health benefits. Player welfare is the number one priority for World Rugby and its Member Unions and education of the best-possible techniques to train and play is important for being physically and mentally prepared. In 2024 Rugby Australia and member unions introduced the trial of the new tackle height laws which aims to enhance player safety and reduce potential concussion though head to head or head to shoulder knocks. All tackles now needing to below the sternum. Strick concussion protocols are also adhered to both at the professional and junior grass roots level further ensuing that player safety is always at the forefront. Correct technique and practice ensure player safety.

We all know that starting something new, unfamiliar and with people you have only just met, can be daunting (even for adults). It’s made a little easier for your child if you, as a parent, get involved with them and actively assist your child’s team. Learn some basics here

The club will provide courses for volunteers to fulfil their roles If you cannot commit to a role for the season, ask your Coach or Team Manager how you can assist them on a week to week basis. It’s OK if you don’t know a lot about Rugby – your coach will happily let you know how you can help. The youngest age groups require lots of hands and patience to keep players’ attention on games and training activities. More helpers often mean that each player gets more turns and touches the ball more often during training.

Our Under 8 to Under 12 teams play according to modified pathway rules.  This allows for a gradual introduction to elements of the game such as Scrums, Lineouts and Tackle.

Tackling is introduced at an Under 8 level with other elements of the game such as pushing in scrums and contested lineouts gradually being introduced in the older divisions. 

From Under 13 to Under 18, teams play according to the u19 law variations.

 

All matches undertaken by Junior Vikings Rugby are governed by the ACTJRU rules of competition.

Vikings Juniors enjoys a close and long standing relationship with the Vikings Rugby Seniors Club with senior players being involved in coaching mentorship and joint training for the u16s and u18s particularly through our GenRed Program

This provides a clear pathway from junior rugby into our senior club.

As well as having several Wallabies and Wallaroos linked to the club, we are very proud to also have many junior players playing with ACT Junior Representative teams. 

These players have access to the ACT Brumbies pathway development programs leading to senior representative rugby. 

Registered participants of the Game are provided basic levels of cover under the Rugby Australia Insurance Plan for Sports Injury (Accident) cover, excluding cover for medical expenses where there is any Medicare Contribution (i.e. Medicare Gap).

It is recommended that all participants consider Private Health and other Insurances as required for their individual circumstances, over and above the coverage provided under this Plan. Further information including Claim details can be found at www.gowgatessport.com.au/rugby Ambulance Transport can now be claimed through the insurance.

The Club or our Registered First Aid Officers are not liable for the cost if an ambulance is called.

Reference: Rugby AU insurance