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.

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

Former teams
The following teams have competed in Group 4 First Grade since 1983: Many of these clubs have moved to Group 19.
 * Armidale (2016) (moved back to Group 19)
 * Barraba (1980s–2021, on and off) (folded)
 * Bendemeer (2018) (folded)
 * Collegians Tamworth (2017) (Returned to junior football only)
 * Coonabarabran (1998–2009) (moved to Castlereagh)
 * Inverell (1980s–1989) (moved to Group 19)
 * Moree Boomerangs (1980s–1990) (moved to Group 19)
 * Manilla Tigers (–2022) (folded)
 * Oxley Diggers Tamworth (2014–16) (folded)
 * Tamworth City (1956–1995, merged with West Tamworth)
 * Tamworth United (1990–91)
 * Warialda (1980s–1988) (moved to Group 19)
 * West Tamworth (1913–1995 as the Robins, merged with Tamworth City 1995–2016), rebranded as South West (2017).

These clubs fielded teams in at least one Division 2 competition during the seasons 2011 to 2017.
 * Bendemeer (folded)
 * Bingara (Group 19)
 * Bundarra (moved to Group 19, in recess)
 * Quirindi (moved to Group 21, Folded)
 * Uralla (moved to Group 19, amalgamated with Walcha)
 * Walcha (moved to Group 19, amalgamated with Uralla)

In 2018, the clubs Bendemeer, Boggabri, Dungowan, Kootingal-Moonbi and Werris Creek were elevated from Division 2 into a reorganised First Grade competition. Manilla moved into the lower grades.

Gunnedah Bulldogs

 * John Donnelly (rugby league)
 * James Wynne
 * John O’Neill (rugby league)
 * Lindsay Johnston
 * Ron Turner (rugby league)

External links and sources

 * Country Rugby League official site
 * Group 4 on SportsTG
 * Rugby League Week at State Library of NSW Research and Collections