Women’s and girls' rugby in Victoria is entering an exciting new phase, with the launch of the Victoria Junior Regional Championships (VJRC) and the introduction of a new year-round Women’s & Girls’ Elite Academy.
The VJRC will run as a six-week program beginning Sunday 15th March, bringing together emerging female players from across the state to train and compete in a representative development environment.
Rugby Victoria Head of Elite Pathways, Braydon Peterson, said the new structure will provide greater opportunity for Victoria’s emerging female athletes.
“The VJRC is an excellent development opportunity for our best young players to train and compete in a genuinely competitive environment.
With exciting national programs coming up, we’re looking forward to identifying and preparing strong Victorian teams to compete at the national level.”
The Victoria Junior Regional Championships are a key development and talent identification program for girls in Victoria and the starting point of the state’s high-performance pathway.
Age Grades:
U16 Girls (3-year window): U14, U15, U16
U18 Girls (2-year window): U17, U18
The multi-year structure allows athletes to enter the program early and continue developing across multiple seasons.
VJRC is also the primary talent identification opportunity for selection into:
Victorian U16 Sevens
Victorian U18 Sevens
These teams compete at the national championships, creating exposure to national age-group programs and future professional opportunities.
Following the completion of VJRC, Rugby Victoria will launch a new Women’s & Girls Elite Academy in late April.
The academy will run year-round and provide enhanced support for Victoria’s top identified players, including:
- Advanced technical and tactical coaching
- Strength & conditioning support
- Individual development planning
- Alignment with national high-performance standards
- Selection into the academy will be heavily informed by performances and identification through VJRC.
Open to Rugby Players and Cross-Code Athletes
The VJRC pathway is open to:
- Current rugby players
- Athletes from other sports
- New participants interested in trying rugby
Sevens rugby rewards speed, agility, competitiveness and decision-making — making it an ideal entry point for athletes from a variety of sporting backgrounds.
The Future of Women’s Rugby in Victoria
Women’s and girls’ rugby in Victoria has never had a clearer or more connected pathway.
With the Victoria Junior Regional Championships providing the foundation and the Women’s & Girls Elite Academy offering year-round support, athletes now have a structured progression from grassroots entry through to state, national and future professional opportunities.
This is more than a program — it’s an investment in the next generation of Victorian female athletes.
Whether you are an experienced rugby player, a cross-code athlete, or someone looking to take on a new challenge, the pathway is open.
📅 Program begins: Sunday 15 March ⏱ Duration: 6 weeks 👥 Eligible players: U16 Girls (U14–U16) | U18 Girls (U17–U18)
👉 Register now:
Click HERE for more information
