TheS. G. Ball Cup is a juniorrugby league football competition played predominantly inNew South Wales, between teams made up of male players aged under 19. Teams from Canberra and Melbourne, and Auckland also participate. Prior to theCOVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales a team from Perth (West Coast) also participated. The competition is administered by theNew South Wales Rugby League, and includes both junior representative teams ofNRL andNSWRL clubs that do not field a team in theNRL.
The S. G. Ball Cup is named afterS. G. "George" Ball, one of the five people responsible for the formation ofSouth Sydney, and who was club secretary for over fifty years.
In 2020, 18 clubs fielded teams in the NSWRL S G Ball Cup. After the sixth round on March 14 & 15, the 2020 competition was suspended and subsequently cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[1] Three teams from 2020 that did not return in 2021 were:
Previous teams that participated in the SG Ball Cup include: Gold Coast (2008–09), Newtown (1970s, early 1980s & 2009), Western Sydney Academy of Sport (2007–17).
Melbourne Storm competed in the S.G. Ball Cup from 2009 to 2014, did not compete from 2015 to 2018, and competed as the Victoria Thunderbolts from 2020 to 2022. The club returned as the Melbourne Storm from the 2023 season.
^New South Wales Rugby Football League."Souths, Parramatta Share Junior Cup Honours".The Rugby League News.49 (26 (June 22, 1968)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved8 September 2020 – via Trove.
^New South Wales Rugby Football League."Souths Take Junior Cups".The Rugby League News.50 (22 (June 21, 1969)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved8 September 2020 – via Trove.
^New South Wales Rugby Football League."JUNIOR FINALS".The Rugby League News.51 (26 (June 27, 1970)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved8 September 2020 – via Trove.
^New South Wales Rugby Football League."Junior Stars Called Up".The Rugby League News.52 (24 (July 3, 1971)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved8 September 2020 – via Trove.
^New South Wales Rugby Football League."The Juniors - A Goal-Kicking Discovery".The Rugby League News.53 (23 (June 24, 1972)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved8 September 2020 – via Trove.
^New South Wales Rugby Football League."Cup to Balmain".The Rugby League News.54 (24 (June 23, 1973)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. Retrieved8 September 2020 – via Trove.
^Pask, Tony. Ross, Barry; Gerard, Geoff (eds.). "Penrith's Bright Future".Big League.58 (18). Flemington, NSW: Forsyth Publications on behalf of New South Wales Rugby League: 11.
^"Junior Representative Finals".Big League.59 (13): 39. 17 May 1978.
^"Junior Representative Finals".Big League.60 (16): 33. 6 June 1979.
^"Junior Representative Finals".Big League.61 (14): 37. 28 May 1980.
^"Junior Representative Finals".Big League.62 (15): 42. 3 June 1981.
^"S.G. Ball Competition".Big League.63 (10): 40. 28 April 1982.
^"Junior Rep Finals Results".Big League.63 (12): 38. 12 May 1982.