The Hugo Ross Trophy was named after a Winnipeg real estate broker, Hugo Ross, who donated the championship trophy to the Western Canada Rugby Football Union (WCRFU). Hugo Ross died a year earlier in April 1912, as he was one of many who drowned in the sinking of .
When the WCRFU joined the Canadian Rugby Union in 1921, the Hugo Ross Trophy champion were able to play for the Grey Cup against teams outside Western Canada. In 1935, the Winnipeg 'Pegs became the only WCRFU team to win the Grey Cup.
By 1936, the Hugo Ross Trophy was awarded to the champion of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU). The winner of the trophy usually ended up playing against the IRFU champions for the Grey Cup. The Hugo Ross Trophy was awarded to the WIFU champion from 1936 to 1947.
In the 1948 season, the Hugo Ross Trophy was replaced by the N. J. Taylor Trophy as the official WIFU trophy. The N. J. Taylor Trophy was awarded to the CFL West Division champions until 2003.
Hugo Ross Trophy winners 1947 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1946 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1945 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1944 – not awarded due to World War II 1943 – not awarded due to World War II 1942 – not awarded due to World War II 1941 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1940 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1939 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1938 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1937 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1936 – Regina Roughriders 1935 – Winnipeg 'Pegs 1934 – Regina Roughriders 1933 – Winnipeg 'Pegs 1932 – Regina Roughriders 1931 – Regina Roughriders 1930 – Regina Roughriders 1929 – Regina Roughriders 1928 – Regina Roughriders 1927 – Regina Roughriders 1926 – Regina Roughriders 1925 – Winnipeg Tammany Tigers 1924 – Winnipeg Tammany Tigers 1923 – Regina Rugby Club 1922 – Edmonton Eskimos 1921 – Edmonton Eskimos 1920 – Regina Rugby Club 1919 – Regina Rugby Club 1918 – not awarded due to World War I 1917 – not awarded due to World War I 1916 – not awarded due to World War I 1915 – Regina Rugby Club 1914 – Regina Rugby Club 1913 – Regina Rugby Club 1912 – Regina Rugby Club 1911 – Calgary Tigers
See also See the N. J. Taylor Trophy to view champions from 1948–present.
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