Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League
The Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League (NRRRL) is a rugby league competition run in the far north of New South Wales, Australia. It is run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League. The league formed in 2005 as an extended Group 1 Rugby League competition, featuring teams from Group 18 Rugby League. Prior to this, teams from Group 18 played in a competition with teams from the Gold Coast region of Queensland; these clubs have since gone on to form the Gold Coast Rugby League competition. Both Group 1 and Group 18 continue to run junior competitions from Under 5s to Under 16s.
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Formerly known as | Group 1 Rugby League / Group 18 Rugby League |
| Instituted | 2005 |
| Inaugural season | 2005 |
| Number of teams | 13 |
| Country | Australia |
| Premiers | Cudgen hornets (2023) |
| Most titles | Ballina Seagulls (5 titles) |
| Website | NRRRL on facebook |
| Broadcast partner | https://www.bartvsports.com.au/competitions/northern-rivers-regional-rugby-league/ |
The competitions run by NRRRL include: First grade, Reserve grade, Under-18's and Ladies League Tag.
Due to sponsorship reasons, in 2007 and 2008 the competition was known as the Retravision Northern League.[1] As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 competition was suspended until August, with four clubs withdrawing. When it resumed, the competition was split in two due to Queensland border restrictions. The former Group 18 teams contested the Green competition, with the former Group 1 teams contesting the Gold competition.
Teams Edit
There are thirteen member clubs of the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League as 2023.
The following clubs in NRRRL fielded teams in the 2023 Senior Mens and Ladies League Tag competitions:
| Club | City/Town | Formed | Home Ground | Men's Grade | Ladies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballina Seagulls | Ballina | 1920 | Kingsford Smith Park | 1st | Yes |
| Bilambil Jets | Bilambil | 1923[2] | Bilambil East Sports Field | 1st | Yes |
| Byron Bay Red Devils | Byron Bay | 1974 | Red Devil Park | 1st | Yes |
| Casino Cougars | Casino | Queen Elizabeth Park | 1st | Yes | |
| Cudgen Hornets | Cudgen | 1950 | Ned Byrne Oval | 1st | Yes |
| Evans Head Bombers | Evans Head | 1999 | Stan Payne Oval | 1st | Yes |
| Kyogle Turkeys | Kyogle | 1960 | New Park | 1st | Yes |
| Lismore Marist Brothers Rams | Lismore | Oakes Oval | 1st | Yes | |
| Lower Clarence Magpies | Yamba | 1915 | Yamba Sporting Complex | 1st | Yes |
| Mullumbimby Giants | Mullumbimby | 1909 | Mullumbimby RLFC | 1st | Yes |
| Murwillumbah Mustangs | Murwillumbah | 1989[3] | Murwillumbah Colts JRL | 1st | Yes |
| Northern United Dirrawongs | Lismore | 2009 | Clifford Park | 1st | Yes |
| Tweed Coast Raiders | Casuarina | 1980 | Les Burger Field | 1st | Yes |
Former Clubs Edit
- Grafton Ghosts (joined Group 2 in 2014)
- Grafton Rhinos (replaced by South Grafton in 2013)
- South Grafton Rebels (joined Group 2 in 2014)
- Tweed Heads Seagulls (joined Gold Coast RL in 2006)
Juniors Edit
The following clubs fielded teams in 2018 Group 1 junior competitions: Ballina Seagulls, Casino Cougars, Clarence Coast Magpies, Grafton Ghosts, Kyogle Tukeys, Lismore Marist Brothers Rams, South Grafton Rebels
The following clubs fielded teams in 2019 Group 18 junior competitions: Bilambil Terranora Jets, Byron Bay Lennox Head Red Devils/Dolphins, Cudgen Headland Hornets, Mullumbimby Giants, Murwillimbah Colts, South Tweed Koala Bears/Ospreys, Tugun Seahawks, Tweed Coast Raiders, Tweed Heads Seagulls
First Grade Premierships Edit
| Season | Grand Final Information | Minor Premiers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Reports | ||
| 2005 | Tweed Heads Seagulls | 44–18 | Murwillumbah Mustangs | MDN[4] | Tweed Heads Seagulls[5] |
| 2006 | Cudgen Hornets | 19–16 | Murwillumbah Mustangs | Murwillumbah Mustangs[6] | |
| 2007 | Mullumbimby Giants | 34–30 | Ballina Seagulls | Star[7] | Mullumbimby Giants[8] |
| 2008 | Byron Bay Red Devils | 25–24 | Grafton Ghosts | FNC[9] | Grafton Ghosts[10] |
| 2009 | Lower Clarence Magpies | 21–20 | Northern United | ABC[11] | Lower Clarence Magpies[12] |
| 2010 | Grafton Ghosts | 14–6 | Ballina Seagulls | FNC[13] | Grafton Ghosts[14] |
| 2011 | Grafton Ghosts | 10–6 | Murwillumbah Mustangs | FNC[15] | Murwillumbah Mustangs[16] |
| 2012 | Murwillumbah Mustangs | 27–26 | Grafton Ghosts | MDN[17] | Murwillumbah Mustangs[16] |
| 2013 | Ballina Seagulls | 30–24 | Murwillumbah Mustangs | Star[18] | Murwillumbah Mustangs |
| 2014 | Ballina Seagulls | 17–6 | Byron Bay Red Devils | Star[19] | Ballina Seagulls |
| 2015 | Ballina Seagulls | 34–6 | Murwillumbah Mustangs | Star[20] | Murwillumbah Mustangs |
| 2016 | Murwillumbah Mustangs | 16–14 | Cudgen Hornets | ABC[21] | Murwillumbah Mustangs |
| 2017 | Ballina Seagulls | 36–28 | Cudgen Hornets | Star[22] | Ballina Seagulls |
| 2018 | Tweed Coast Raiders | 24–4 | Ballina Seagulls | TDN[23] | Tweed Coast Raiders |
| 2019 | Ballina Seagulls | 38–18 | Murwillumbah Mustangs | NBN[24] Star[25] | Ballina Seagulls |
| 2020 (Green) | Tweed Coast Raiders | 24–18 | Murwillumbah Mustangs | NBN[26] | Tweed Coast Raiders |
| 2020 (Gold) | Ballina Seagulls | 30–16 | Lismore Marist Brothers | NBN[27] | Ballina Seagulls |
| 2021 season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 2022 | Bilambil Jets | 30–18 | Evans Head Bombers | Murwillumbah Mustangs | |
Ladies League Tag Edit
| Season | Grand Final Information | Minor Premiers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Reports | ||
| 2017 | Byron Bay Red Devils | 12–8 | Lismore Marist Brothers | ||
| 2018 | Lismore Marist Brothers | 22–4 | Byron Bay Red Devils | Lismore Marist Brothers | |
| 2019 | Tweed Coast Raiders | 12–10 | Lismore Marist Brothers | ||
| 2020 (Green) | Tweed Coast Raiders | 4–2 | Cudgen Hornets | Cudgen Hornets | |
| 2020 (Gold) | Lismore Marist Brothers | 18–0 | Ballina Seagulls | Lismore Marist Brothers | |
| 2021 season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 2022 | Cudgen Hornets | 14–10 | Lismore Marist Brothers | Cudgen Hornets | |
Juniors Edit
Both Group 1 and Group 18 run independent junior competitions as was before the merger to form the NRRRL in seniors.
See also Edit
Sources Edit
| Years | Acronym | Item | Available Online | Via |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967–69, 1971–96 | - | Country Rugby League Annual Report | No | State Library of NSW |
| 2003 to 2014 | RLW | Rugby League Week | Yes | eResources at State Library of NSW |
| 2007 to 2019 | Star | The Northern Star | Yes | Northern Star website |
| 2005 to 2019 | - | Various Newspaper Websites | Yes | As referenced |
References Edit
- ^ https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lismore/sport/local-league-enters-new-era/news-story/5242374e22daafca2b884f694d66794c[bare URL]
- ^ "PlaySport.com: Find, Organise and Play Sport Like Never Before". playsport.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ "Murwillumbah Leagues Club". Murwillumbah Leagues Club. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ Final Triumph
- ^ Tweed (12 September 2005). "Mustangs host Tweedshowdown | Tweed Daily News". Mydailynews.com.au. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Lismore (19 August 2006). "Bros have the experience". Daily Telegraph. Northern Star. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Lismore (28 July 2009). "Drought's drug ban". Northern Star. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Northern Rivers (29 August 2007). "Stirring Seagulls win one man down | Lismore Echo". Echonews.com.au. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Byron Bay wins rugby league grand final | Far North Coaster Magazine". Farnorthcoaster.com.au. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Grafton Ghosts, Byron Bay battle it out to host NRRRL grand final | Far North Coaster Magazine". Farnorthcoaster.com.au. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Lower Clarence celebrate the 2009 NRRRL Grand Final at the Maclean Showground
- ^ "Minor premiers meet defending premiers | Far North Coaster Magazine". Farnorthcoaster.com.au. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ 2010 NRRRL Grand Final Results
- ^ Ballina and Grafton Ghosts to meet in NRRRL grand final
- ^ NRRRL Grand Final Results
- ^ a b "Mustangs backed to beat Ghosts | Tweed Daily News". Mydailynews.com.au. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ gmartin (3 September 2012). "Mustangs are grand final champs | Tweed Daily News". Mydailynews.com.au. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ mcraig (5 September 2013). "Ballina Seagulls set to break 20-year Premiership drought". Northern Star. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Craig, Mitchell (17 September 2014). "Brothers key to Ballina's grand final win over Red Devils". Northern Star. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ Craig, Mitchell. "NRRRL's 2015 highlights and our pick for team of the year". Northern Star. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "Emotions overflow as Murwillumbah Mustangs honour fallen team mate". ABC News. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ Craig, Mitchell (11 September 2017). "Hard-fought win for Seagulls in NRRRL grand final". Northern Star. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ Vivian, Steve (9 September 2018). "Raiders conquer Ballina in historic NRRRL grand final win". Tweed Daily News. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Fairytale Season Ends In Grand Final Win For Ballina". NBN News. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Seagulls win another NRRRL grand final". 8 September 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "TWEED COAST RAIDERS TAKE HOME PREMIERSHIP IN NRRRL GREEN COMP". 11 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "BALLINA SEAGULLS WIN NRRRL GRAND FINAL AGAINST MARIST BROTHERS". 18 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
External links Edit
- Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League on Facebook
- Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League on Instagram