List of rugby union clubs in Australia | |
---|---|
Governing body | Rugby Australia |
First played | 25 July 1839,[1] Sydney, New South Wales |
Registered players | 82,818 (total) 38,010 (adult)[2] |
Clubs | 848 |
Club competitions | |
Audience records | |
Single match | 109,874 Australia v New Zealand, (Telstra Stadium) 15 July 2000 |
The highest level of provincial rugby union in Australia is Super Rugby. There are five Australian teams in this competition, which also features teams from New Zealand and Fiji.
Australia currently has no national club competition. The first attempt at such a competition, the Australian Rugby Championship, was launched in 2007 with eight teams, but lasted only one season before the nation's governing body, the Australian Rugby Union (now Rugby Australia), decided to discontinue the competition due to financial losses. The second and most recent attempt at forming a national domestic league, the National Rugby Championship, was launched in 2014 with nine teams and lasted six years until it was disbanded in 2020. The current top level competitions in Australia are the Shute Shield in Sydney and the Queensland Premier League in Brisbane. Numerous club and representative competitions serve the rugby playing community below these two competitions.
The National Rugby Championship (2014−2020) was a former annual competition held between professional teams from each state.
Former:
The Australian Rugby Shield (2000-2008) and NRC Division 2 (2018-2020) were former annual competitions held between amateur representative teams from each state.
Main article: Rugby union in New South Wales |
Former:
Former:
Former:
This union is officially affiliated with the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union instead of the NSW union.
Northern Division:
Southern Division:
Former:
Former:
City-United Historical note: During the 1994 pre-season, it became clear that neither United nor Armidale City would have enough players to field four grades or be competitive. Given that quite a few of City's squad were former United players, NERU Secretary and former United President Dick Croft encouraged the two clubs to join forces, and City United was born. The new club competed strongly for the next eight years before merging with Armidale Old Boys for the 2002 season. This resulted in the new Armidale Blues Rugby Club, which combines the history and tradition of City, the professionalism and competitiveness of Old Boys, and the spirit and student depth of United.
This union is also affiliated with the ACT union instead of a NSW body.
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
Fourth Division
Fifth Division
Sixth Division
South-East
Main article: Rugby union in the Australian Capital Territory |
The following teams compete in first and second division competitions
Main article: Rugby union in the Northern Territory |
'A' & 'B' grade competition:
East Arnhem Rugby runs a junior rugby competition between April and August. While not part of a regular competition, East Arnhem Rugby provides competition for Senior Players by entering in 7's Tournaments.[3]
Main article: Rugby union in Queensland |
List does not include Queensland Premier Rugby clubs that also field teams in the Suburban competitions.
Main article: Rugby union in South Australia |
Main article: Rugby union in Tasmania |
Main article: Rugby union in Victoria |
Main article: Rugby union in Western Australia |