Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League Explained

Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League
Pixels:150x150px
Formerly:Group 1 Rugby League / Group 18 Rugby League
Founded:2005
Inaugural:2005
Ceotag:Chief executive
Teams:13
Championtag:Premiers
Champion: Ballina Seagulls
Season:2024
Most Champs: Ballina Seagulls
Count:5
Website:NRRRL Facebook
Tv:BarTV

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.

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

There are fourteen member clubs of the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League as 2023.

The following clubs in NRRRL fielded teams in the 2024 Senior Mens and Ladies League Tag competitions:

Current Clubs

Club City/Town FormedGroupHome GroundPremiershipsPremiership Years
1920Group 1Kingsford Smith Park7 2013–15, 2017, 2019–20, 2024
Bilambil Jets1923[2] Group 18Bilambil East Sports Field1 2022
1974Group 18Red Devil Park1 2008
Group 1Queen Elizabeth Park0 None
1950Group 18Ned Byrne Oval2 2006, 2023
1999Group 1Stan Payne Oval0 None
1960Group 1New Park0 None
1912Group 1Oakes Oval0 None
Yamba1915Group 1Yamba Sporting Complex1 2009
Mullumbimby1909Group 18Mullumbimby RLFC1 2007
1989[3] Group 18Murwillumbah Colts JRL2 2012, 2016
2009N/AClifford Park0 None
1980Group 18Les Burger Field2 2018, 2020
Tweed Heads SeagullsTweed Heads1909Group 18Piggabeen Sports Complex12005

Former Clubs

Juniors

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

SeasonGrand Final InformationMinor Premiers
PremiersScoreRunners-upReports
2005 align=left Tweed Heads Seagulls44–18 align=left Murwillumbah MustangsMDN[4] align=left Tweed Heads Seagulls[5]
2006align=left Cudgen Hornets19–16align=left Murwillumbah Mustangsalign=left Murwillumbah Mustangs[6]
2007align=left Mullumbimby Giants34–30align=left Ballina SeagullsStar[7] align=left Mullumbimby Giants[8]
2008align=left Byron Bay Red Devils25–24align=left Grafton GhostsFNC[9] align=left Grafton Ghosts[10]
2009align=left Lower Clarence Magpies 21–20align=left Northern UnitedABC[11] align=left Lower Clarence Magpies[12]
2010align=left Grafton Ghosts14–6align=left Ballina SeagullsFNC[13] align=left Grafton Ghosts[14]
2011align=left Grafton Ghosts10–6align=left Murwillumbah MustangsFNC[15] align=left Murwillumbah Mustangs[16]
2012align=left Murwillumbah Mustangs27–26align=left Grafton GhostsMDN[17] align=left Murwillumbah Mustangs
2013align=left Ballina Seagulls30–24align=left Murwillumbah MustangsStar[18] align=left Murwillumbah Mustangs
2014align=left Ballina Seagulls17–6align=left Byron Bay Red DevilsStar[19] align=left Ballina Seagulls
2015align=left Ballina Seagulls34–6align=left Murwillumbah MustangsStar[20] align=left Murwillumbah Mustangs
2016align=left 16–14align=left Cudgen HornetsABC[21] align=left Murwillumbah Mustangs
2017align=left 36–28align=left Cudgen HornetsStar[22] align=left Ballina Seagulls
2018 align=left Tweed Coast Raiders24–4align=left TDN[23] align=left
2019align=left Ballina Seagulls38–18align=left Murwillumbah MustangsNBN[24] Star[25] align=left Ballina Seagulls
2020 (Green)align=left Tweed Coast Raiders24–18align=left Murwillumbah MustangsNBN[26] align=left Tweed Coast Raiders
2020 (Gold)align=left Ballina Seagulls30–16align=left Lismore Marist BrothersNBN[27] align=left Ballina Seagulls
2021 season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022align=left Bilambil Jets30–18align=left Evans Head Bombersalign=left Murwillumbah Mustangs
2023 Cudgen Hornets18-4 Ballina Seagulls Ballina Seagulls
2024 Ballina Seagulls16-10align=left Bilambil Jets Ballina Seagulls

Ladies League Tag

SeasonGrand Final InformationMinor Premiers
PremiersScoreRunners-upReports
2017 align=left Byron Bay Red Devils12–8 align=left Lismore Marist Brothersalign=left
2018 align=left Lismore Marist Brothers22–4 align=left Byron Bay Red Devilsalign=left Lismore Marist Brothers
2019 align=left Tweed Coast Raiders12–10 align=left Lismore Marist Brothersalign=left
2020 (Green)align=left Tweed Coast Raiders4–2align=left Cudgen Hornetsalign=left Cudgen Hornets
2020 (Gold)align=left Lismore Marist Brothers18–0align=left Ballina Seagullsalign=left Lismore Marist Brothers
2021 season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022align=left Cudgen Hornets14–10align=left Lismore Marist Brothersalign=left Cudgen Hornets

Juniors

See main article: Group 1 Rugby League and Group 18 Rugby League. Both Group 1 and Group 18 run independent junior competitions as was before the merger to form the NRRRL in seniors.

See also

Sources

Years Acronym Item Available
Online 		Via
1967–69, 1971–96 align=center -Country Rugby League Annual Report align=center NoState Library of NSW
2003 to 2014 align=center RLWRugby League Week align=center YeseResources at State Library of NSW
2007 to 2019 align=center StarThe Northern Staralign=center YesNorthern Star website
2005 to 2019 align=center -Various Newspaper Websites align=center YesAs referenced

Notes and References

  1. News: Miller . Adrian . Local league enters new era . The Daily Telegraph .
  2. Web site: PlaySport.com: Find, Organise and Play Sport Like Never Before . 2023-08-07 . playsport.com . en.
  3. Web site: Murwillumbah Leagues Club . 2023-08-07 . Murwillumbah Leagues Club . en-AU.
  4. http://www.mydailynews.com.au/story/2005/09/19/apn-final/ Final Triumph
  5. Web site: Tweed . Mustangs host Tweedshowdown | Tweed Daily News . Mydailynews.com.au . 12 September 2005 . 5 August 2018.
  6. News: Lismore . Bros have the experience . Daily Telegraph . Northern Star . 19 August 2006 . 5 August 2018.
  7. Web site: Lismore . Drought's drug ban . Northern Star . 28 July 2009 . 5 August 2018.
  8. Web site: Northern Rivers . Stirring Seagulls win one man down | Lismore Echo . Echonews.com.au . 29 August 2007 . 5 August 2018.
  9. Web site: Byron Bay wins rugby league grand final | Far North Coaster Magazine . Farnorthcoaster.com.au . 14 September 2008 . 5 August 2018 . 5 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180805143719/http://www.farnorthcoaster.com.au/sport/1781/byron-bay-wins-rugby-league-grand-final/ . dead .
  10. Web site: Grafton Ghosts, Byron Bay battle it out to host NRRRL grand final | Far North Coaster Magazine . Farnorthcoaster.com.au . 27 August 2008 . 5 August 2018.
  11. Web site: Lower Clarence celebrate the 2009 NRRRL Grand Final at the Maclean showground - ABC (none) - Australian Broadcasting Corporation. www.abc.net.au.
  12. Web site: Minor premiers meet defending premiers | Far North Coaster Magazine . Farnorthcoaster.com.au . 21 August 2009 . 5 August 2018.
  13. Web site: 2010 NRRRL Grand Final Results.
  14. Web site: Ballina and Grafton Ghosts to meet in NRRRL grand final.
  15. Web site: NRRRL Grand Final Results.
  16. Web site: Mustangs backed to beat Ghosts | Tweed Daily News . Mydailynews.com.au . 1 September 2012 . 5 August 2018.
  17. Web site: gmartin . Mustangs are grand final champs | Tweed Daily News . Mydailynews.com.au . 3 September 2012 . 5 August 2018.
  18. Web site: mcraig . Ballina Seagulls set to break 20-year Premiership drought . Northern Star . 5 September 2013 . 5 August 2018.
  19. Web site: Brothers key to Ballina's grand final win over Red Devils. Craig. Mitchell. 17 September 2014. Northern Star. 22 April 2019.
  20. News: NRRRL's 2015 highlights and our pick for team of the year. Craig. Mitchell. Northern Star. 22 November 2018.
  21. News: Emotions overflow as Murwillumbah Mustangs honour fallen team mate. 19 September 2016. ABC News. 22 November 2018.
  22. Web site: Hard-fought win for Seagulls in NRRRL grand final. Craig. Mitchell. 11 September 2017. Northern Star. 22 April 2019.
  23. Web site: Raiders conquer Ballina in historic NRRRL grand final win. Vivian. Steve. 9 September 2018. Tweed Daily News. 22 April 2019.
  24. Web site: Fairytale Season Ends In Grand Final Win For Ballina. 8 Sep 2019. NBN News. 30 May 2020.
  25. Web site: Seagulls win another NRRRL grand final. 8 Sep 2019. 30 May 2020.
  26. Web site: TWEED COAST RAIDERS TAKE HOME PREMIERSHIP IN NRRRL GREEN COMP. 11 Oct 2020. 12 Nov 2020.
  27. Web site: BALLINA SEAGULLS WIN NRRRL GRAND FINAL AGAINST MARIST BROTHERS. 18 Oct 2020. 12 Nov 2020.

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