Junee prepares to welcome thousands as Schoolboys Carnival returns

JUNEE is preparing to welcome thousands of young rugby league players, their families and supporters next weekend as one of Australia’s most iconic junior football carnivals returns for its 81st year.

The Riverina Schoolboys Football Carnival will once again transform the town into the heart of country rugby league on Saturday, August 1, with 146 teams set to compete across multiple age divisions.

Matches will be played across Laurie Daley Oval, Burns Park, Loftus Oval and the Junee Showground, with football running throughout the day as hundreds of volunteers help deliver one of the Riverina’s biggest annual sporting events.

2025 Riverina Schoolboys Carnival | © The Junee Bulletin

Widely regarded as one of Australia’s largest junior rugby league carnivals, the event has showcased the region’s best young talent for more than eight decades, with generations of players pulling on the boots in Junee before progressing to representative honours and professional careers.

For many Riverina families, attending the carnival has become an annual tradition spanning multiple generations.

Last year’s milestone 80th anniversary carnival attracted more than 1,900 players from 155 teams, while close to 70 referees officiated more than 230 matches across 18 fields.

With families, officials, volunteers and spectators in tow, the crowd swelled to an estimated 5,000 people, effectively doubling Junee’s resident population for the day.

Carnival secretary Maree Allamby said organisers were expecting another busy weekend after nominations gathered momentum in recent weeks.

“We now have 146 teams nominated for this year’s carnival,” she said.

“The carnival is well supported by teams from our local area, as well as teams from Cowra, Canberra, Leeton and Griffith.

“Nominations started slowly but have reached a number we are happy with.”

Mrs Allamby said several late withdrawals reduced the field from 150 to 146 teams.

One of the withdrawals involved one of only two nominated Under 15 teams, meaning the age division will not be contested this year.

2025 Riverina Schoolboys Carnival | © The Junee Bulletin

The carnival’s origins date back to 1943, when just six teams contested the inaugural competition.

From those humble beginnings, it grew to become the largest junior rugby league carnival of its kind in the world, peaking at 242 teams in 1969 before evolving into today’s round-robin format.

While younger age groups compete for participation certificates, older teams battle for coveted pennants that remain among country rugby league’s most sought-after junior honours.

Behind the scenes, months of planning have gone into preparing the precinct, with staging the carnival requiring an army of volunteers, dozens of referees and extensive logistical planning.

2025 Riverina Schoolboys Carnival | © The Junee Bulletin

With the countdown now on, Mrs Allamby said final preparations were well underway.

“The grounds are a credit to Junee Shire Council, which has them in top condition for the carnival, and every week for user groups,” she said.

“NSW Corrective Services are also assisting with line marking and getting all the goal posts into position.”

Despite the size of the event, last year’s carnival recorded just three player injuries, with two requiring hospital treatment.

Organisers have further strengthened medical coverage this year by arranging for a doctor to be on site throughout the carnival.

“Hopefully they won’t be needed,” Mrs Allamby said.

2025 Riverina Schoolboys Carnival | © The Junee Bulletin

The National Rugby League will again support the carnival by donating two tickets to this year’s NRL Grand Final to be raffled on the day.

Eight NSW Rugby League officials will also attend, including NRL referee coordinator Tim Bailey.

A custom fire bucket donated by MPF Engineering and a $250 Junee IGA voucher, redeemable at Junee IGA or Broadway Builder Supplies, will also be raffled during the carnival.

Beyond the football, the carnival has become one of Junee’s most significant annual events, delivering an important economic boost to the town.

Each year, cafes, takeaway shops, supermarkets, pubs, fuel stations, accommodation providers and other local businesses benefit from the thousands of visitors who travel to Junee, reinforcing the carnival’s reputation as one of Australia’s premier grassroots rugby league events and one of Junee’s proudest annual traditions.