Mr Dec 17 - Nswrl Junior Representative Draws

The Board of the New South Wales Rugby League has today expressed its disappointment with the Canberra Raiders' decision not to compete in the 2011 NSW Cup which will make their juniors ineligible to play in the NSWRL's Junior Representative Competitions.

The NSWRL has spent considerable time and energy with all Clubs to engage them in the NSW Cup because the competition is a critical platform for Rugby League in the state as it links directly with NSW elite junior programs.

18 months ago the NSWRL worked to strengthen the NSW Cup as well as all representative pathways and the League made it clear that all Clubs needed to provide clear pathways within NSW.

NSWRL General Manager, Geoff Carr, said despite months of negotiations with the Raiders, the club has today announced they will not field a team in the NSW Cup with the full knowledge that this would make their juniors ineligible for Harold Matthews and SG Ball.