The 2026 Season
A parent's complete guide to the rugby year at Wakehurst. What happens when, what to expect, and how to get the most out of every month.
How the Season Unfolds
Rugby at Wakehurst runs from February (registration) through to September (presentation). Here's what each phase looks like.
Get registered, get ready
Registration opens in February through Rugby Xplorer. No games yet — this is the time to sort your registration, pay fees, and collect gear. Juniors and Seniors begin pre-season training in late February. Minis coaches start planning rosters.
- Register early — Early Bird discount deadline is usually end of February
- Get a mouthguard fitted before the season starts
- Check Rugby Xplorer for training schedule updates
Rugby returns to Waldon Road
The 2026 ANZAC Day weekend typically marks the first official games for Juniors and Seniors. Minis usually start in the last Sunday of April. Pre-season friendlies are sometimes played in the final weeks of April. Watch for announcements on draws.
- Minis: first game likely last Sunday of April — check the draws page
- Juniors: first game around ANZAC weekend (25 April)
- Seniors: Clark Cup / Farrant Cup / Nicholson Cup Round 1
- 60th Anniversary season — extra events planned
Full competition underway
The busiest stretch of the season. Minis play every Sunday morning. Juniors play Friday evenings and Sundays. Seniors take the main oval Saturday afternoons with up to three grades fielding simultaneously. This is the weekly rhythm of Wakehurst Rugby — canteen open, BBQ on Saturdays, families on the hill.
- Game schedules are posted in the Draws page — check weekly
- Rain policy: games continue in light rain. Check club Facebook for cancellations.
- Canteen open Sunday from 7:30am. Saturday from 12pm.
- Seniors bar open after home games — all welcome.
Reduced schedule — check the draw
NSW school holidays in July typically cause a reduction in the fixture schedule. SJRU and Warringah Minis competition may have a bye round. Seniors generally continue. The exact impact varies year to year — always check the Draws page for the current schedule.
- Not every grade has a bye in July — check the draw first
- Great time for family members to catch up on missed games
- Training often continues through the break — check with coaches
Finals and presentation
The final rounds of the regular season run through August, followed by finals series for grades that have qualified. The SJRU season typically concludes with final rounds in August. Warringah Minis grand final day is held at a neutral venue in August — one of the highlights of the year.
- Check the draws page for finals fixtures
- Minis grand final day: usually mid-to-late August at a district venue
- Seniors finals: depends on ladder position — check FuseSport
Celebrate, reflect, plan
The season wraps up with presentation nights and end-of-season events. Junior presentation nights recognise players, coaches, and club contributors. Seniors hold their own presentation. It's the moment where the bonds built during the season are celebrated — and where next year's volunteers and committee members often put their hand up.
- Presentation nights: date announced mid-season — check Facebook and email
- Now is the time to put your hand up to coach, manage, or volunteer for 2027
- Players considering senior rugby should speak to the VP Seniors
Schedule by Grade
Every grade runs to a slightly different schedule. Use this as a quick reference for your specific team.
Minis (Blueys, U6–U9)
- Competition
- Warringah/Manly Minis Competition
- Games
- Sunday mornings
- Venue
- Home and away — Northern Beaches clubs
- Season length
- ~12–14 rounds
- Training
- Optional Wednesday afternoons
Juniors (U10–U16)
- Competition
- Sydney Junior Rugby Union (SJRU)
- Games
- Friday evenings + some Sundays
- Venue
- Home and away — Sydney North region
- Season length
- 14–16 rounds + finals
- Training
- Wednesday evenings
Seniors — 1st XV (Clark Cup)
- Competition
- NSW Suburban Rugby — Division 3
- Games
- Saturday afternoons (2–3pm)
- Venue
- Home and away — Sydney Subbies region
- Season length
- 14–16 rounds + finals
- Training
- Tuesday evenings
Seniors — Reserve XV (Farrant Cup)
- Competition
- NSW Suburban Rugby — Division 3
- Games
- Saturday afternoons (12–1pm)
- Venue
- Home and away — same as 1st XV
- Season length
- Same schedule as 1st XV
- Training
- Tuesday evenings
Colts — U21 (Nicholson Cup)
- Competition
- NSW Suburban Rugby Colts
- Games
- Saturday afternoons
- Venue
- Home and away
- Season length
- 14–16 rounds + finals
- Training
- Tuesday evenings
Key Dates — 2026
Add these to your calendar at the start of the season. Specific round dates are on the Draws page.
| When | What | Grades | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| End of February | Early Bird registration deadline | All grades | Discount cut-off. Register before this date. |
| Late March | Pre-season training begins | Juniors, Seniors | Training schedules posted on Rugby Xplorer |
| 25 April (ANZAC Day) | Season opens — first games | Juniors, Seniors | Traditional first round of competition |
| Late April | Minis season starts | U6–U9 | Sunday mornings, Wakehurst Rugby Park |
| April–August | Regular season | All grades | 14–16 rounds depending on grade |
| July (school hols) | Possible bye rounds | Minis, some juniors | Check Draws page — varies by grade |
| August | Finals series begins | Qualified grades | Top 4/6 from each competition |
| Mid-August | Warringah Minis Grand Final Day | U6–U9 | Neutral venue — family day out |
| September | Presentation nights | All grades | Dates announced mid-season |
Dates are indicative. Official draws published by SJRU and Warringah Minis Competition — check the Draws page for confirmed fixtures.
Between Seasons
Rugby doesn't completely stop in the off-season at Wakehurst.
October–January
No competition, but social events and planning continue. The committee meets to review the season, plan next year's coaching structure, and prepare grant applications.
Touch 7s (Feb–Mar 2027)
Touch rugby returns in the summer months — Friday evenings in multi-week waves. All ages, boys and girls. A great way to stay active and connected to the Wakehurst community over summer.
Senior Pre-Season
Senior players who want a step up start pre-season conditioning in the off-season. Strength and conditioning information is distributed by the coaching group — ask the VP Seniors.
Volunteer Now
The off-season is when the club needs volunteers the most — for the committee, for coaching, for canteen rosters. If you've been thinking about getting involved, this is the moment.
Ready for 2026?
Registration is open now through Rugby Xplorer. Early Bird discounts available until end of February.