Group 21 Rugby League is a local

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

competition, run under the control of the

Country Rugby League The Country Rugby League of New South Wales (CRL), formed in 1934 and disbanded in 2019, was the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in areas of New South Wales outside the Sydney metropolitan area until it merged with NSW Rug ...

. It covers the

Upper Hunter The Upper Hunter Shire is a local government area in the Upper Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire was formed in May 2004 from the Scone Shire and parts of Murrurundi and Merriwa shires. The Mayor of the Upper Hunter Shir ...

area of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, and has three divisions, first grade, reserves and Under 18s. For sponsorship reasons, it is known as the ''Bengalla Group 21 Competition''. The Scone Thoroughbreds have won the most titles, winning 36 titles, and are considered one of the most successful country rugby league teams. In 2006, the Greta-Branxton Colts joined the competition.

Teams

Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). The first confirmed case in Australia was identified on 25 Januar ...

the 2020 season did not commence as originally scheduled and was cancelled in mid-June. The 2021 season was also cancelled mid-season.

Former teams

* Muswellbrook Sharks (merged with the Rams) *

Bunnan Bunnan is a town in the Upper Hunter Shire in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on Bunnan Road east of Merriwa about 270 kilometres north of Sydney, and is part of the Hunter (federal) and Upper Hunter The Up ...

Bears (1990s, merged with Scone) *

Quirindi Quirindi ( or ) is a small town on the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, in Liverpool Plains Shire. At the , Quirindi had a population of 3,444. It is the nearest link to Gunnedah to the west and Tamworth to the north. ...

Grasshoppers (5 premierships, Folded) *

Werris Creek Werris Creek is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, near Tamworth, New South Wales, Tamworth, in Liverpool Plains Shire. It is north of Quirindi, New South Wales, Quirindi and is at the junction of the Main North railway line, New South ...

Magpies (1980s, 2 premierships,

Group 4 Group 4 may refer to: *Group 4 element, chemical element classification *Group 4 (racing), classification for cars in auto racing and rallying * G4S, formerly Group 4 Securicor, a prominent British security company *IB Group 4 subjects The Group 4 ...

) *

Raymond Terrace Raymond Terrace is a town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about by road north of Newcastle on the Pacific Highway. Established in 1837 it is situated at the confluence of the Hunter and Williams rivers. The town was named ...

Magpies (entered competition in 2009, returned to NHRL after) * Branxton (1 premiership) * Army (Singleton Army base, 1940s, 1 premiership, also 1952-53 in 2nd Grade) * Sandy Hollow (1946) * Singleton St Patrick's (mid 1940s) * Caroona (1990s) Lower Grades *

Budgewoi Budgewoi is a suburb located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, as part of the local government area. Budgewoi is located 112 km by road north of the Sydney central business district. Much of the town is surrounded ...

Buff Point Buff Point is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , ...

Bulldogs (2009, Under 18s only, returned to NHRL) * Bendemeer (1997, 2nd Division) * Willow Tree (late 1920s, 2nd Grade) * Wybong (mid 1930s, 2nd Grade) * Moonan Flat (mid 1930s, 2nd Grade) * Jerry's Plains (late 1930s & 1948, 2nd Grade)

Competition winners

First Grade Premiers

Rugby Union

A Rugby Union competition ran in the Upper Hunter from 1897 to 1914, and in 1919, as a direct predecessor to the Rugby League competition. Aberdeen, Muswellbrook, Scone and in some years Murrurundi participated. In the early stages Finals appear to be held only when the top two teams were equal on points at the conclusion of the round-robin matches. Union matches were played during the World War One, in the seasons 1915 to 1918, on an irregular and social basis. Singleton played in competitions centred in Maitland..

Junior League

The following clubs field teams in Group 21 Junior Competitions: * Aberdeen Tigers * Denman Devils * Merriwa Magpies * Muswellbrook Rams *

Scone Thoroughbreds Scone Thoroughbreds is a country rugby league team, based in Scone, New South Wales, competing in the Group 21 competition under the auspices of the Country Rugby League. The club is the most successful team in Rugby League history, winning 29 ...

* Singleton Greyhounds

References

External links and Sources

Group 21 homepage
* ''

Rugby League Week ''Rugby League Week'' (frequently abbreviated to RLW) was the highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, ahead of major competitor ''Big League''. It was published weekly (on Wednesdays) during the Australian rugby league season, which ru ...

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State Library of NSW Research and Collections
{{Country Rugby League Rugby league competitions in New South Wales