Rugby League Jamaica’s 20th National Club Championship Set to Begin

Thundercats Kishony Campbell on the attack versus Red Sharks in the 2025 Grand Finals

Rugby League Jamaica’s (RLJ) 20th National Club Championship (NCC) is set to kick off on Saturday, May 30, with six clubs competing for national honours in what is expected to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent years.

The participating teams are defending champions St. Catherine ThunderCats, Duhaney Park Red Sharks, Liguanea Dragons, Washington Blvd. Bulls, Jamaica Defence Force Warriors, and West Kingston Hyenas.

This year’s competition will feature a double round-robin format, with all teams playing each other twice to determine playoff seedings. The top two teams at the end of the regular season will advance directly to the semi-finals, earning an additional week of rest.

The playoff phase begins on August 22, with the third-seeded team facing the sixth seed, while the fourth and fifth seeds meet in the other elimination contest. The winners will progress to the semi-finals alongside the top two seeds, while the losers will be eliminated from championship contention. The semi-finals and Grand Final are scheduled for August 29 and September 5 respectively at the UWI Mona Bowl.

Defending champions St. Catherine ThunderCats enter the season as slight favourites after capturing their maiden NCC title in 2025. Despite boasting a youthful roster, the ThunderCats possess a dynamic blend of power, pace, and skill that will make them difficult opponents throughout the campaign. National representatives Tah-Jay Lynch, Kevin Thomas, and Joseph Daley are expected to spearhead their title defence, alongside dangerous halves, Ronaldeni Fraser and Kishony Campbell.

Duhaney Park Red Sharks, runners-up last season, are once again expected to be among the leading contenders. Widely regarded as the most successful club in the history of the competition, the Red Sharks have reached 17 finals and secured 10 championships across the tournament’s 19 completed seasons. This is a veteran side with plenty experience and young up and coming players. Senior National players Marvin Thompson, Chevaughn Bailey, Daniel Graham, and Andrew Simpson will be central figures in their pursuit of another title.

The Jamaica Defence Force Warriors are also expected to challenge strongly for championship honours. Historically one of the league’s most consistent teams, the Warriors have captured two NCC titles and remain perennial playoff contenders. Former national players Steve Miller and Jerome Laird are expected to provide leadership, while prolific 2025 try scorers Shezraye Thompson and Shamar Burrell add significant attacking threat.

Liguanea Dragons enter the season seeking to shed the label of underachievers after finishing fourth in 2025.

Despite consistently fielding talented and experienced squads, the Dragons have reached only one Grand Final in their eleven-year history. Nevertheless, they remain one of the competition’s most dangerous teams on their day. National players Michael Pearson, Romario Bartley, and Adrian Hall are expected to lead their campaign.

Washington Blvd. Bulls continue to build around a youthful core as they aim to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish. While breaking into the top four may prove challenging, the Bulls are expected to benefit from the continued development of players such Shaquille Drummond, Travis Tyrell and Timarri Johnson. Meanwhile, veterans Chevaughn Smith and Reardon Grant are also expected to be also be key anchors for an improved campaign.

West Kingston Hyenas will also look to improve after finishing sixth in 2025. Still searching for their first Grand Final appearance, the Hyenas possess the ability to upset stronger opponents but will need greater consistency to challenge the league’s top sides. National players Omar Jones, Kamarine Williams, and Ricardo Richards are expected to lead from the front.

Commenting on the upcoming season, RLJ Director of Rugby Romeo Monteith expressed excitement about the level of competition expected throughout the championship.

“We are anticipating a quality season with several closely contested matches, particularly among the top four teams. There is a strong spread of talent across the competition, and we are continuing to see significant improvement in the technical knowledge of both players and coaches. This year, there is genuine uncertainty about who will reach the finals, and that makes for an exciting and intriguing championship.”