NRL Victoria has this week confirmed that Rugby League competitions across the state are set to resume next month, kicking off with the Melbourne Metro Men’s and Women’s Premierships on April 10.
The Melbourne Metro competitions, which feature teams from seventeen clubs from across the Greater Melbourne basin, will run its Open Age Premierships from April 10 until August 14, with the Finals Series kicking off on August 21 and concluding on September 4, whilst Junior competitions on May 1 and will then run parallel to the Senior draw.
With the 2020 competition being impacted by COVID-19, the Truganina Rabbitohs will return as defending Champions in the Men’s Open Age competition, whilst the Werribee Bears will hold that title in the Women’s Open Age competition.
Outside of Melbourne, the Murray Cup competition, will kick off in May and feature seven clubs including defending Men’s and Women’s Champions, the Tumbarumba Batlow Greens.
Other clubs taking part in season 2021 include the Cowora Cougars, Wodonga Wombats, Wangaratta Knights, Benalla Wolfpack, CSU Mud Dogs and Wodonga Storm.
The Sunraysia Rugby League in the state’s North West is also aiming to kick off in May and will again feature the Chaffey Titans, Mildura Tigers, Mildura Warriors and Robinvale Storm. The Mildura Tigers are the current Sunraysia Women’s defending Premiers, whilst the Mildura Warriors hold the Men’s title.
The final regional competition, the Limestone Coast Rugby League, which is played on the Victorian and South Australian borders has not yet confirmed when the 2021 competitions will start.
Clubs in the Limestone Coast competition include the Horsham Panthers, Gunditjmara Bulls, North Warrnambool Warriors, Warrnambool Raiders, Blue Lake Knights (West Gambier) and Naracoorte Jets.
