Logo of Balmain District Junior Rugby League featuring a fierce tiger head in black, white, orange, and red, with black and orange background.

about us /

A collage of logos representing different Junior Rugby League football clubs, arranged on a marshmallow-shaped background with an orange top, black bottom, and a black triangle on the side. The logos include Dundas Shamrocks, Carlingford Cougars, Strathfield Raiders, North Ryde J.R.L.F.C., Enfield Federals, Rhinos, Rye-Eastwood Hawks, Concord Burwood Wolves, Leichhardt Wanderers, Leichhardt Juniors, Five Dock, and Balmain District.
Meet all our affiliated clubs

Formed  in  1908 /

Formed in 1908, the Balmain District Junior Rugby League (BDJRL) is one of the oldest and most respected junior rugby league competitions in Australia. Based in the inner west and inner north-west of Sydney, the league administers an affiliated network of junior clubs and supports both male and female competitions from Under 6s to Opens.
The organisation plays a vital role in developing grassroots rugby league talent and fostering community participation across generations.

The league age groups are from under 6’s to open mens, and has a womens and mens leagues.

Mixed Rugby League tackle u6 - U12’s

Rugby league junior league sydney

FEMALE tackle U12 - OPENS

Rugby league junior league sydney

FEMALE League tag U10 - OPENs

Rugby league junior league sydney

MALE Rugby League U13 - Opens

Rugby league junior league sydney

The Balmain District Junior Rugby League was established the same year rugby league began in Australia, 1908, reflecting the region’s deep roots in the sport. Traditionally a breeding ground for future stars, the league has grown from a handful of teams to a vibrant competition with multiple age brackets and inclusive female and male divisions

Early Formation and Growth /

Birchgrove Oval with balmain junior rugby league players, spectators sitting on benches and standing, and people watching from a distance on a grassy hill.

Historically, Balmain’s rugby league identity is closely connected with the legendary Balmain Tigers senior club, a foundation club of the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) since 1908. The Tigers won multiple premierships before merging with the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1999 to form today’s Wests Tigers in the NRL. Their legacy is an important part of Balmain’s rugby league culture and inspires local juniors each season.

balmain tigers /

Legendary Juniors /

AAron Woods / Leichhardt Juniors

David gower / Holy cross rhinos

Kane evans / Leichhardt wanderers

bronson harrison / Leichhardt wanderers

josh lewis / Leichhardt wanderers

Kurtley Beale / north ryde hawks

Mitchell Pearce / north ryde hawks

Wayne Pearce / Balmain police boys

Paul Sironen / north ryde hawks

Benny Elias / Holy cross rhinos

Dene Halatau / North ryde

Robbie Farah / Leichhardt wanderers

Luke Brooks / Holy cross rhinos

MItchell Moses / Carlingford Cougars

Alan Thompson / north ryde hawks

Wayne Wigham / north ryde hawks

Mark O'Neill / north ryde hawks Dundas shamrocks

Kevin Hardwick / ryde district devils

John Davidson / birchgrove scorpions

Matthew Burke / Carlingford Cougars

Board of directors /

  • Michael Frain

    Chairman

  • Bob Siemsen

    DIRECTOR / TREASURER

  • TBC

    director

  • Damien Mackey

    director

  • Elias Nassar

    Director

  • Gary Thompson

    Director

  • Leslie Elias

    Director

  • TBC

    Director

  • TBC

    Director

  • Nathan Surplice

    Director

  • Nick Speranza

    DIRECTOR

  • Ron Ryan

    Patron

  • Tony Guarrera

    Director

  • Wes Gebara

    Director

  • ASSN Sean Hampstead

    Balmain referees Director

Balmain District internationals  /

1911 charles fraser / #76

1919 albert johnston / #96

1919 Jack Robinson / #100

1919 Bill Schultz / #106

1919 Reg Latta / #111

1921 Jim Craig / #118

1921 George Carstairs / #123

1924 Horrie Watt / #132

1929 George Bishop / #156

1935 sid goodwin / #199

1937 frank griffiths / #210

Australian Kangaroos / cap #

1946 george watt / #230

1948 fred de belin / #238

1952 tom tyrell / #297

1956 Don Furner / #328

1956 norm pope / #325

1956 bill marsh / #329

1961 Jack Sinclair / #365

1961 frank drake / #366

1967 dennis tutty / #412

1967 Geoff Connell / #413

1970 Bobby Grant / #444

1971 Geoff Starling / #459

1978 ian Thomson / #509

1982 John Muggleton / #538

1982 Wayne Pearce / #549

1985 Steve Roach / #562

1985 Ben Elias / #565

1986 Paul Sironen / #576

1992 Tim Brasher / #624

2009 Robbie Farah / #761

2009 Aaron woods / #793

2004 dene halatau / #713

2005 bronson harrison / #723

new zealand kiwis / cap #

life members  /

Jim Acheson

Fred Alexander*

Chris Annison

Kathy Annison

Jeff Aplitt

Keith Bailey*

Bill Ballard

Allan Barber

Bob Barnett*

Craig Barnett

Ernie Baldwin

Ken Bell*

Ray Barclay

Tony Bietola

Des Booler

George Bowden*

Bill Bradshaw*

Bill Brown

Ken Brownlee*

Bill Burke

Harold Chalk*

Alan Carling

Anthony (Wally) Carpenter

John Carrington

Bob Carroll*

Sid Coghlan*

Brian Coleman

Bob Cooper

John Critchley

John Culbert*

Charlie Day

Ray Dalton*

Max Davis*

Phil Dore

John Doyle*

John Dunlea*

Frank Dunne

Gary Dickson

Paul Egan

Terry Evans

Bill Evans*

Bill Fender*

G Frederick*

Jim Fitzgibbons*

Mal Finnigan* Gino Fogliati

Dennis Fowler*

Sam Gebrael

Ray Gerrie

Ian Gibbeson

Don Graham*

Bert Hampstead*

Harry Hannaford*

Pat Hegarty

Ted Hellsten*

Austin Hoyle*

Les Heath

Bob Henderson

Peter Hunter

J Hughes*

Wally Houghton*

Keith Jacobs*

John Jackson*

Geoff Large

Steve Leslie

Cliff Madgwick*

Mick Manning

Peter Mortimer

Harold Matthews*

Chris Karas

David Kelly

Myles Kennedy*

Charlie Khalifeh

Jack King*

Mick Ko’Cass

Mick O’Keefe

Arthur McIlveen*

Tom Middleton*

Leo Neylon*

Tony Newell

Maurie O’Brien

Joe Palmer

Reg Patterson

Lyn Phillis

Ron Pursehouse

Roy Rawson

Eric Richardson*

John Robertson

Arthur Robinson

George Robinson*

Martin Ritter

Ron Ryan

Alexandra Siemsen

Bob Siemsen

Dennis Simmons

Graham Simmons

H Skinner

Nick Speranza

John Stanton

Jack Tagg*

John Stapleton

Ken Stapleton

Jack Taylor*

Kevin Thatcher*

Colin Thew*

Ian Todd

Norman Towells

Doug Vitnell*

Alan Watts

Bob Waterson

A Waterson

Athol Webster*

Paul Wheelhouse

Ron Wicks

Billy Wise

Fred Woodbridge*

Stan Woodbridge*

Warwick Hilder

Brian Johnston

Richard Kelly

Melissa Kelly