Group 4 Rugby League
Group 4 is a rugby league competition in the New England and north west area of New South Wales, run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League. Structure. The Group runs a first grade, reserve grade, league tag and under 18s competitions. All nine first grade clubs run at least one lower grade team and most will have three or four. In addition to the nine first grade clubs, there was also one junior club involved in under 16s: Farrer MAHS. The Under 16s competition has since become a part of the junior league organisation  in the region, Group 4 JRL. It also formerly ran a second division competition called the Wests Shield. The second division competition contained stand-alone senior teams from smaller towns within the region, who eventually moved up to first grade in 2018 after a merger between the divisions. Kootingal-Moonbi, Dungowan and Boggabri moved up to being full first grade teams, whilst Manilla and Barraba moved into the reserves competition. Manilla then re-joined the first grade competition in 2022. There are also Group 4 senior Under 18s and Under 16s representative teams that competes against other Group sides. They  compete against Groups 19 and 21 in trials for the Greater Northern Tigers regional team. Teams. Current teams. Nine teams currently compete in Group 4 Rugby League first grade, from towns across the New England and north west area of New South Wales. The 2020 season was postponed and subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. First Grade Clubs Lower Grade Clubs There are ten Reserve Grade and Ladies League Tag teams competing in the 2021 season: Werris Creek Magpies, Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters, Gunnedah Bulldogs, Manilla Tigers, Narrabri Blues, Boggabri Kangaroos, Moree Boars, Barraba Bulldogs, North Tamworth Bears , Dungowan Cowboys. There are five Under 18's teams competing in the 2021 season: Werris Creek Magpies, Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters, Dungowan Cowboys, Gunnedah Bulldogs, Narrabri Blues. Past teams. The following teams have competed in Group 4 First Grade since 1983: Armidale (2016), Collegians (2017), Coonabarabran (1998-2009), Inverell (1980s-1989), Moree Boomerangs (1980s-1990), Oxley (2014–16), Tamworth City (1956-1995), Tamworth United (1990–91), Warialda (1980s-1988), Wee Waa (??-1994, 1996-2010, 2012–14, 2017), West Tamworth (1913-2016) rebranded as South West (2017). Many of these clubs have moved to Group 19. Bendemeer, Bingara, Bundarra, Quirindi, Uralla and Walcha fielded teams in at least  one Division 2 competition during the seasons 2011 to 2017. In 2018, the clubs Boggabri, Dungowan, Kootingal-Moonbi and Werris Creek were elevated from Division 2 into a reorganised First Grade competition. Manilla moved into the lower grades.