Queensland Premier Rugby

Queensland Premier Rugby (QRU), also known as the Sumo Energy Hospital Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a semi-professional club rugby union competition in South East Queensland (SEQ), Australia. Nine clubs play in the competition, eight clubs are from Brisbane, and one club is from Gold Coast. The premiership has been contested in its present form since 1929.

History The Queensland Premier Rugby evolved out of the Brisbane club competition that had been running since 1887. It was created by players, administrators, referees and coaches to expand and improve the top level of Queensland non-professional rugby. QPR provides Queensland rugby players a stepping stone for selection into the Queensland Reds and other teams in Super Rugby or other professional rugby competitions.

Previous to 1920, the Hospitals Challenge Cup was established as a fund-raising exercise for the Brisbane General Hospital. After the devastation of World War I the competition was suspended until the Hospitals Cup was established. The Brisbane Club competition recommenced in 1929.

The 1975 Grand Final was played between the Brothers club and GPS and Brothers won the match. Teachers-Norths, Wests and again Brothers won the next seasons. In 1979, the first ever draw in a final occurred with a 24-all draw between rivals University and Brothers, a reply of the final was held, which saw University defeat Brothers by a mere 3 points. Brothers dominated the next few seasons, winning the 1980 to 1984 premierships. Souths won their first title in 1986, and University won a number of titles at the end of the decade.

Souths came to major prominence during the 1990s, winning the competition five times in a row from 1991 through to 1995, and then again in 1998 and 2000. They also featured in the 1996 season final which GPS won, and the 1997 final which Easts won. Canberra also competed in the competition, and found major success, winning three titles in a row from 2001 to 2003. The Gold Coast Breakers also began to become a force in the competition, featuring in five finals from 2001 to 2007, although they were on the receiving end of the competitions largest ever grand final score being thrashed 85-19 by the Sunnybank Dragons in the 2007 Grand Final.

In future, teams from other Rugby regions in Queensland may also join the competition, thus encouraging the pursuit of Rugby excellence across the state, not just confining it Queensland's south-east corner. However at a meeting of the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union in October 2013, it was decided by the members not to compete in the 2014 QRU’s Premier Rugby Competition, but will instead focus its energy on becoming the leading force in regional rugby.

Other trophies Thomas Welsby Memorial Cup: The top two first grade teams at the end of the first full round of home and away matches contest the Welsby Cup in their second round meeting. The cup was originally donated by Thomas Welsby.

Keith Horsley Memorial Trophy: Now presented to First Grade Minor Premiers, since 1978. The trophy donated by the Family of Sgt Keith Thornton Horsley who was Killed in Action during WW2.

Doughty Challenge Shield: Named for businessman Hector Randall Doughty, a former marine engineer with the Queensland Harbours and Rivers Department and lightweight champion boxer, the Doughty Shield is awarded annually to the champion Brisbane club, based on competition points won across all participating grades.

Queensland Premier Rugby Teams Current Teams

Queensland Premier Rugby Club Colours Moniker City/Region/Town Suburb/s Premiership/s Most recent Brothers Brisbane Filth Brisbane Albion190531 University of Queensland Students Brisbane St Lucia191133 GPS (Great Public Schools) Gallopers Brisbane Ashgrove19316 South Brisbane Magpies Brisbane Annerley194810 East Brisbane Tigers Brisbane Norman Park19475 West Brisbane Bulldogs Brisbane Toowong19514 Sunnybank Dragons Brisbane MacGregor19693 North Brisbane Eagles Brisbane Wooloowin19912 Bond University* Bullsharks Gold Coast Robina20141

Former Teams

Queensland Premier Rugby Club Colours Moniker City/Region/Town Suburb/s Premiership/s Most recent Gold Coast* Breakers Gold Coast Robina 19961 Sunshine Coast Stingrays Sunshine Coast K. Waters 2005 Canberra Vikings Canberra Canberra 19943

Gold Coast Breakers were reformed as Bond University Bullsharks

Grand Final results, Hospital Cup winners (since 1946) 2026 Brothers Brisbane51–14 West Brisbane2025 Bond University 27–25 Brothers Brisbane2024 Brothers Brisbane 29–27 West Brisbane2023 Brothers Brisbane 26–24 West Brisbane2022 West Brisbane 44–27 University of Queensland 2021 University of Queensland 29–12 GPS Brisbane 2020 East Brisbane33–18 University of Queensland2019 University of Queensland 31–26 Brothers Brisbane2018 GPS Brisbane 23–16 University of Queensland 2017 University of Queensland 23–14 GPS Brisbane 2016 Brothers Brisbane 31–28 University of Queensland2015 South Brisbane 39–12 East Brisbane 2014 University of Queensland 20–18 Sunnybank 2013 East Brisbane 27–22 GPS Brisbane 2012 University of Queensland 46–20 Sunnybank 2011 Sunnybank 35–24 Brothers Brisbane 2010 University of Queensland 19–11 Sunshine Coast 2009 Brothers Brisbane 26–19 South Brisbane 2008 East Brisbane 22–21 Brothers Brisbane 2007 Sunnybank 85–19 Gold Coast 2006 West Brisbane 23–22 Brothers Brisbane 2005 Sunnybank 41–17 Gold Coast 2004 Gold Coast 24–18 University of Queensland 2003 Canberra 29–16 Gold Coast 2002 Canberra 45–3 East Brisbane 2001 Canberra 32–10 Gold Coast 2000 South Brisbane 34–30 West Brisbane 1999 East Brisbane 16–15 West Brisbane 1998 South Brisbane 34–18 West Brisbane 1997 East Brisbane 18–16 South Brisbane 1996 GPS Brisbane 12–6 South Brisbane 1995 South Brisbane 27–11 East Brisbane 1994 South Brisbane 19–8 Sunnybank 1993 South Brisbane 27–8 Sunnybank 1992 South Brisbane 44–10 University of Queensland 1991 South Brisbane 22–15 West Brisbane 1990 University of Queensland 19–10 Brothers Brisbane 1989 University of Queensland 34–9 South Brisbane 1988 University of Queensland 18–10 South Brisbane 1987 Brothers Brisbane 20–19 South Brisbane 1986 South Brisbane 31–13 Brothers Brisbane 1985 West Brisbane 10–7 University of Queensland 1984 Brothers Brisbane 18–3 East Brisbane 1983 Brothers Brisbane 30–15 University of Queensland 1982 Brothers Brisbane 25–16 University of Queensland 1981 Brothers Brisbane 36–13 Teachers-North Brisbane 1980 Brothers Brisbane 19–0 South Brisbane 1979 University of Queensland 16–13 Brothers Brisbane 1978 Brothers Brisbane 19–15 University of Queensland 1977 West Brisbane 15–10 Brothers Brisbane 1976 Teachers-North Brisbane 16–4 GPS Brisbane 1975 Brothers Brisbane 23–6 GPS Brisbane 1974 Brothers Brisbane 27–19 GPS Brisbane 1973 Brothers Brisbane 20–10 GPS Brisbane 1972 GPS Brisbane 23–18 University of Queensland 1971 Brothers Brisbane 17–3 East Brisbane 1970 University of Queensland 24–6 GPS Brisbane 1969 University of Queensland 22–14 Brothers Brisbane 1968 Brothers Brisbane 17–6 University of Queensland 1967 University of Queensland 17–15 GPS Brisbane 1966 Brothers Brisbane 36–9 University of Queensland 1965 University of Queensland 17–15 GPS Brisbane 1964 University of Queensland 29–9 Teachers 1963 Teachers 28–6 University of Queensland 1962 University of Queensland 18–12 South Brisbane 1961 GPS Brisbane 19–13 University of Queensland 1960 University of Queensland 11–6 Brothers Brisbane 1959 Brothers Brisbane 13–11 University of Queensland 1958 South Brisbane 9–5 University of Queensland 1957 University of Queensland 23–18 South Brisbane 1956 University of Queensland 19–6 GPS Brisbane 1955 University of Queensland 18–16 South Brisbane 1954 University of Queensland 19–3 GPS Brisbane 1953 Brothers Brisbane 11–9 University of Queensland 1952 University of Queensland 11–3 Brothers Brisbane 1951 Brothers Brisbane 17–6 GPS Brisbane 1950 Brothers Brisbane 21–10 University of Queensland 1949 Brothers Brisbane 13–8 University of Queensland 1948 University of Queensland 21–18 GPS Brisbane 1947 University of Queensland 8–6 Brothers Brisbane 1946 Brothers Brisbane 11–6 GPS Brisbane

Total Premierships (since 1946) Team Premiers (Hospitals Challenge Cup) Runners-up (Vince Nicholls Memorial Shield) Brothers 24 13 University of Queensland 24 20 Souths 10 10 Easts 5 5 GPS 4 15 Wests 4 7 Sunnybank 3 4 Norths 0 0 Bond University 1 0 Canberra 3 0 Gold Coast 1 4 Teachers-Norths 1 1 Teachers 1 1 0 1

Former clubs (since 1929) B.G.S. Old Boys, Y.M.C.A., Valleys, Wynnum, Past Commercials/Technical College Old Boys West End, South Brisbane, Combined High School Old Boys, Starlights (Ipswich) Valley Playground Old Boys, Eagle Junction, New Farm, Bretts-Windsor Mayne, Windsor, R.A.A.F. Maristonians, Police, Northern Districts United Services, R.A.A.F. Amberley, Army Teachers, Gold Coast Eagles, Q.I.T./Colleges, Ipswich Rangers Redcliffe, Teachers-Norths, Kenmore Canberra Vikings, Sunshine Coast Stingrays, Gold Coast Breakers

Queensland Premier Rugby

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