Group 21 Rugby League is a local

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...

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, Sydney metropolitan area until it merged with ...

. It covers the

Upper Hunter The Upper Hunter Shire is a local government area in the Upper Hunter Valley 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 New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

, 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 was a part of the COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first confirmed case in Aust ...

the 2020 season did not commence as originally scheduled and was cancelled in mid-June. The 2021 season was also cancelled mid-season. Eight clubs contest the competition, with six teams competing in First Grade, seven in Reserve Grade, five in Ladies League Tag and four in Under 18s as of 2023.

Former teams

* Muswellbrook Sharks (merged with the Rams) * Bunnan Bears (1990s, merged with Scone) *

Werris Creek Werris Creek is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, near Tamworth, in Liverpool Plains Shire. It is north of Quirindi and is at the junction of the Main North railway line to Armidale and Moree. At the 2011 census, Werris Creek had a ...

Magpies (1980s, 2 premierships,

Group 4 Group 4 may refer to: *Group 4 element Group 4 is the second group of transition metals in the periodic table. It contains only the four elements titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), and rutherfordium (Rf). The group is also called the t ...

) *

Raymond Terrace Raymond Terrace, locally known as "Raymo” or "The Terrace", is a town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about by road north of Newcastle, New South Wales, Newcastle on the Pacific Highway, Australia, Pacific Highway. Establi ...

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 coastal town that is located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Budgewoi is situated on two peninsulas that is split by the Budgewoi Lake. The town is located about 114 km northeast of Sydney. It is part ...

Buff Point 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..

Title Tally

Junior League

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

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