Junior High School T1 Rugby League
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Changes to the 2026 League
2026 Junior High T1 Rugby League Information
Rugby Nova Scotia is excited to continue with T1 Rugby for the 2026 junior high rugby season! Following the successful launch of this format in 2025, all league play will continue under the same T1 Rugby rules, including the “tackle triangle” modification. Rules and supporting resources can be found under the Resources tab.
2026 T1 Rugby Jamborees:
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The league will host five separate jamborees at the SMU Gymnasium throughout the season.
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This new format guarantees teams more games against a variety of schools, professionally refereed by Nova Scotia officials.
The 2026 T1 Rugby Tournament will be a two-day event:
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Day 1: Round-robin and qualifying matches
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Day 2: Playoffs featuring both winning and consolation brackets
To support teachers and coaches, Rugby Nova Scotia will also host another professional development (PD) session, with details to be confirmed soon.
We look forward to building on the success of last season and continuing to grow T1 Rugby across Nova Scotia’s junior high schools, making the game fun, inclusive, and engaging for all!
Junior High T1 Rugby Jamboree
Jamboree Structure & Key Details
- Location: All jamborees will be hosted at the SMU Gymnasium (920 Tower Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3)
- Capacity: We have secured five dedicated dates, and each individual jamboree is equipped to host six teams.
- Guaranteed Play: Every team attending a jamboree is guaranteed a minimum of four competitive games.
- Officiating: All games will be professionally refereed by a certified Nova Scotia referee.
Scheduling and Participation
- Participation: Schools are welcome to attend multiple jamborees. However, we will prioritize ensuring that all interested schools have the opportunity to participate in at least one event before confirming multi-jamboree attendance.
- Schedule Publication: The full Jamboree schedule, including dates and team assignments, will be distributed well in advance.
- Competitive Matchups: We will make every effort to schedule game matchups within the appropriate divisions to ensure competitive balance.
Financial Information
- Participation Fee: A per-team fee is required for participation in each jamboree.
- Invoicing: This cost will be clearly itemized and added to your school’s final league invoice (if applicable).
Jamboree #1 Details
Date: Thursday, March 5th, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: SMU Athletics – Gymnasium
Cost: $150/Team
Registered Schools:
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
Jamboree #2 Details
Date: Wednesday, March 11th, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: SMU Athletics – Gymnasium
Cost: $150/Team
Registered Schools:
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
Jamboree #3 Details
Date: Thursday, March 12th, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: SMU Athletics – Gymnasium
Cost: $150/Team
Registered Schools:
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
Jamboree #4 Details
Date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: SMU Athletics – Gymnasium
Cost: $150/Team
Registered Schools:
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
Jamboree #5 Details
Date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: SMU Athletics – Gymnasium
Cost: $150/Team
Registered Schools:
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
- Open Spot
Junior High T1 Rugby Tournament
2026 Junior High T1 Rugby Championship Tournament
The Junior High T1 Rugby Tournament marks the exciting conclusion of our season, where schools compete for the coveted Junior High T1 Rugby Championship Banner! This year, we are expanding the format into a two-day event designed to deliver more competitive games and the opportunity to play against a wider variety of schools.
Tournament Structure: More Play, More Experience
This year’s structure ensures every team gets maximum playing time across the two days:
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Day 1: Round Robin Placement
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All registered teams will participate in a round robin format to determine placement for the final day.
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The goal is to provide multiple games for every team and establish fair competitive groupings.
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Day 2: Championship & Consolation Pools
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All teams will return for Day 2.
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Teams will be grouped into two distinct pools based on their Day 1 performance: the Championship Pool and the Consolation Pool.
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This ensures all teams continue to play meaningful matches against opponents of a similar competitive level and maximizes the total number of games played this season.
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Divisions for Skill Development
To ensure players of all skill levels can thrive and develop, the tournament features two primary divisions:
| Division | Grades | Focus |
| Senior Division | Grades 7–9 | A competitive division where athletes showcase their advanced skills, teamwork, and understanding of the game. |
| Developmental Division | Grades 5–6 | A non-competitive division aimed at fostering growth, allowing young players to apply what they’ve learned in a supportive and engaging environment. |
These divisions reflect our commitment to ensuring that every player, regardless of age or experience, has the opportunity to participate meaningfully and progress in their rugby journey. They play an essential role in building confidence, refining skills, and experiencing the joy of rugby at their appropriate level.
Junior High T1 Rugby Information Sheet
Junior High T1 Rugby Laws
T1 Rugby Tackle Triangle Drills
Tournament Details
Date: April 10th and 11th, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: SMU Huskies Stadium – 920 Tower Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3 (all-weather turf)
Cost: $200/Team
Registration: Opens March 20th, 2026
- Please email me at rugbydevelopment@sportnovascotia.ca with any questions regarding tournament registration.




















