In Australia, what is considered the third tier of Rugby is often referred to as club rugby, grade rugby or premier rugby. Club Rugby often focuses on the major metropolitan areas of the respective unions, with teams representing various districts and suburbs. The teams represented in the first grade can and have changed over time, and are open to change at the discretion of the governing body.
Sydney Premiership
The Shute Shield is a rugby union competition in Sydney, New South Wales. It is the premier grade rugby trophy in Sydney rugby. The shield is contested by 11 Sydney Rugby Union clubs and one from Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union.
The first Sydney club competition was held in 1874, contested by Balmain, Newington College, University of Sydney and The King's School, Parramatta. The Shute Shield is seen as the traditional successor to this competition.
The shield was donated to the New South Wales Rugby Union in 1923 by Sydney University Football Club, and was named in honour of Robert Elliott Stewart Shute who died while playing for The Rest v NSW XV on 5 June 1922.
Current clubs
Club Colour Jersey Nickname Region Premierships Mostrecent Note(s) Eastern Suburbs Beasties Rose Bay (Eastern Suburbs)190010 Eastwood Woodies Marsfield (Hills District)19476 Gordon Highlanders, Stags Chatswood (North Shore)19369 Manly Marlins Manly (Northern Beaches)19067 Northern Suburbs Shoremen, Norths North Sydney (Lower North Shore)19007 Western Sydney Two Blues Two Blues Merrylands (Parramatta)19343 Randwick Galloping Greens, The Wicks Coogee (Eastern Suburbs)191429 Southern Districts Rebels, Souths Sylvania Waters (Sutherland Shire)19890 Sydney University Students Camperdown (Inner West)190033 Warringah Rats Warriewood (Northern Beaches)19632 West Harbour Pirates Concord (Inner West)19002 Hunter Wildfires Newcastle (Hunter Region) Location is outside the Sydney-Metro and outer-region area.19950
Queensland Premier Rugby
Queensland Premier Rugby is the top club competition in Queensland. Nine clubs take part: eight from Brisbane and a club each from the Gold Coast.
The first club rugby competition in Queensland was the Hospital Football Challenge, which began in 1899. It was an annual fund-raising venture for the Brisbane Hospital, but the game fell away during and after WWI, and rugby union was abandoned in Queensland after 1919.
The competition was restored in 1929 and the original trophy, the magnificent Hospital Cup became the premiership trophy again. It is now awarded to the winner of the Premier Rugby grand final.
Teams in Queensland Premier Rugby Est. Club Location Home Ground Nickname Admitted to Premier Grade Premierships (most recent) 1996 Bond University Gold Coast (Varsity Lakes) Bond University Field Breakers 1997 2 (2025) (in 2004 as Gold Coast Breakers) 1905 Brothers North-East Suburbs (Albion) Jack Ross Oval Butcher Boys, The Brethren, The Filth 1905 30 (2024) 1947 Eastern Districts Eastern Suburbs (Coorparoo) David Wilson Field Tigers, Easts 1950 5 (2020) 1931 GPS Old Boys Inner West (Ashgrove) Ashgrove Sports Ground Jeeps 1931 6 (2018) 1931 North Brisbane North Brisbane (Wooloowin) Hugh Courtney Oval Eagles, Norths 1991 (1933 — Eagle Jctn, 1961 — Teachers, 1974 — Teachers-Norths) 2 (1976) 1911 University of Queensland Inner West (St Lucia) University Field 5A Red Heavies, The Students 1912 33 (2021) 1948 Southern Districts Southern Brisbane (Annerley) R.A. "Chipsy" Wood Oval Magpies, Souths 1948 10 (2015) 1969 Sunnybank Sunnybank and Logan Oldmac Oval, Macgregor Dragons 1989 3 (2011) 1951 West Brisbane Inner West (Toowong) Sedgman Oval Bulldogs, Wests 1955 4 (2022)
ACTRU Premier Division
The ACTRU Premier Division is the top rugby club competition in Canberra. It is conducted by the region's governing body, the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union.
The competition was first held in 1938. There are currently, six ACT clubs that compete in the top division. The trophy awarded to the winner of the grand final is the John I Dent Cup, named after the benefactor who donated it to the union. All of the finals are played at Viking Park.
Teams that compete for the John I Dent Cup Est. Club Location Home Ground Nickname Admitted to Premier Grade Premierships (most recent) 1949 Canberra Royals Woden Valley Phillip Oval Blue Baggers 1949 22 (2024) 1967 Gungahlin Eagles Gungahlin Nicholls Oval Eagles 1967 4 (2023) (2 as Daramalan RUFC) 1965 Penrith Emus Rugby Penrith Nepean Rugby Park The Emus 2022 1954 Queanbeyan Whites Queanbeyan Campese Field Whites 1955 8 (2022) 1973 Tuggeranong Vikings Tuggeranong Viking Park Vikings 1973 14 (2018) 1988 Uni-Norths Owls North Canberra ANU North Oval Owls 1988 (1938 – University, Norths) 9 (2025) (7 as Northern Suburbs) 1962 Wests Lions Belconnen Jamison Oval Lions 1962 13 (2005)
RugbyWA Premier Grade
The RugbyWA Premier Grade is contested by 14 teams from the Greater Perth Area.
The teams currently in the RugbyWA Premier Grade are:
RugbyWA Premier GradeEst. ClubLocationHome Ground Premierships (most recent)1975ARKs Harrisdale Rugby ClubHarrisdaleHarrissdale Community Oval N/A1948AssociatesSwanbourneAllen Park 10 (2024)1893Cottesloe Rugby Union Football ClubCottesloeHarvey Field 12 (2021)1998Joondalup Brothers Rugby ClubJoondalupArena Joondalup N/AUnknownKalamundaForrestfieldHartfield Park 1 (2008)1934NedlandsNedlandsCharles Court Reserve 16 (2015)1934PalmyraAlfred CoveTompkins Park 3 (2023)1906Perth BayswaterMorleyPat O'Hara Reserve 3 (2007) (1 as Perth-Suburbs)1973RockinghamRockinghamLark HillN/AUnknownSouthern LionsSuccessSuccess Oval N/A1929UWAMount ClaremontUWA Sports Park 5 (2014)1981WannerooKingswayKingsway Reserve1 (2025)1930Wests Scarborough Rugby Union Football ClubDoubleviewBennett Park 12 (2022) (5 as Western Suburbs and 2 as Wests-Scarborough)
Victorian Premier Division
The Dewar Shield is contested by 10 teams from the Greater Melbourne Area. After the first Round the Top Five teams continue competing for the Deward Shield and the Bottom Five compete for the Ward Shield
Teams that compete for the Dewar Shield Est. Colours Club Location Home Ground Nickname Admitted to Premier Grade Premierships (most recent) 1958 Box Hill Box Hill RHL Sparks Reserve Broncos 1966 3 (2001) 1979 Endeavour Hills Endeavour Hills Frog Hollow Reserve Eagles 2007 1928 Footscray Footscray Henry Turner Memorial Reserve Bulldogs 1928 3 (1937) 1928 Melbourne Harlequins Ashwood Ashwood Reserve Quins 1930 12 (2023) 1909 Melbourne Unicorns Armadale Romanis Reserve, Orrong Park Unicorns 1929 20 (2019) 1909 Melbourne University Parkville Royal Park Students 1910 6 (1967) 1965 Moorabbin Moorabbin Keys Rd Reserve Rams 1965 15 (2012) 1933 Power House Albert Park Noel Clarke Field House, The Society 1936 14 (2026) 1923 Kiwi Hawthorn Hawthorn Lewin Reserve Kiwis 1987, (1923 as The Kiwi Club) 13 (1996)2011BrimbankDeer ParkBon Thomas ReserveBucks2026
South Australian Premier Grade
The Cooper Premier Grade is contested by 9 teams.
Teams that compete for the Cooper Premier Grade Club Nickname Home Ground Entered competition Premierships (most recent) University of Adelaide Blacks Waite Oval 1932 Brighton RUFC Tigers Brighton Oval 1950 13 (2022) Burnside RUFC Burnside Parkinson Oval 1946 5 (2025) Elizabeth Lizzies Womma Park 1958 Old Collegians RFC Old Colls Tregenza Oval 1936 4 (2016) Onkaparinga RUFC Onkas Wilfred Taylor Reserve 1968 1 (2015) Port Adelaide RUFC Pirates Riverside Oval 1933 1 (2002) Southern Suburbs RUFC Bulls Bailey Reserve 1946 2 (2007) Woodville RUFC Wasps Gleneagels Reserve 1933
As of 2018, there are fourteen clubs which make up RUSA, eleven of these clubs field senior men's sides, eight field senior women's sides and 11 field junior sides. There is also a golden oldies club for players 35+, and a rugby sevens club for women and girls (12+).
Tasmanian Division One
As at the end of 2019, there are 13 clubs which make up the TRU. Teams currently in the Tasmanian Division One are:
Club Colours Teams Nickname(s) Home Ground Entered Union Burnie RUFC Blue & Red Men's Emus Upper Burnie Sports Ground 1961 (reformed 1997) Devonport RUFC Green with Black Men's, Women's, Junior's Bulls Don Oval 1964 Eastern Suburbs RUFC Maroon with White Men's, Women's, Juniors, Golden Oldies (35+) Roosters, Chicks North Warrane Oval 1964 Glenorchy RUFC Black Men's, Women's, Juniors Stags Eady Street Sports Ground 1935 Hobart Convicts RUFC Grey & Black Golden Oldies (35+) Convicts No set Ground ??? Hobart Harlequins RUFC Green, Blue, Red & Black Men's, Women's, Golden Oldies (35+) Quins, Queens Rugby Park 1933 Hobart Hutchins Lions RUFC Grey, Black, Yellow & Magenta Men's, Juniors (assoc. with The Hutchins School) Lions War Memorial Oval 1974 Launceston RUFC Black & Red Men's Tigers Royal Park 1999 North West RUFC Purple with Black Women's Panthers Upper Burnie Sports Ground 2018 Tamar Valley RUFC Orange & Teal Women's Vixens Royal Park 2017 Taroona RUFC Blue & White Mens, Women's, Juniors, Golden Oldies (35+) Penguins Rugby Park 1947 University of Tasmania RUFC Red Men's, Women's Red Men, Red Women UTAS Rugby Ground 1933 Australian Maritime College RUFC currently in recess Light Blue with Royal Blue Trim Men's Vikings Royal Park 2012
Ten of these clubs field senior men's sides, eight field senior women's sides, and five field junior sides. There is also a "golden oldies" club for players aged 35+.
Darwin First Grade
The First Grade competition is contested by 5 teams from the Darwin area.
Casuarina Cougars Darwin Dragons Palmerstown Crocs South Darwin Rabbitohs University Pirates
Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union Premiership
The Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union is based around the NSW city of Newcastle, located ~160 km north of Sydney.
The earliest report of a football match in Newcastle was in 1860, when 'a lover of the old English games has offered one of Mrs. O’Hagan’s most fashionable bonnets as a prize to the fortunate party who shall give the winning (final) kick in a game of foot-ball, to be played on the new cricket ground, near St. John's Church. A precursor to the formation of a local union, the Raysmith Challenge Cup was commenced in 1887 and was contested by Newcastle, Waratah, Advance, Orientals, Union, Ferndale, West Maitland, Raymond Terrace, East Maitland Imperial, Singleton and East Maitland clubs.
In 1888 the Northern Branch of the NSW Rugby Football Union was established, later renamed the Newcastle Rugby Union. The competition was suspended during World War 1, reforming in 1925. The 1925 competition comprised Cook's Hill Old Boys, Newcastle High School Old Boys, Great Public Schools' Old Boys (later Wanderers), Lysaght's Limited, Northern Suburbs and Mayfield. The NHRU currently sponsors Premier Rugby, Divisional Men’s, Social Men’s, Women’s, Juniors and Schools competitions. The 2019 Premier Rugby competition was contested by nine clubs across 3 men’s grades.Premier Rugby Clubs in the NHRU (2019)' Club Location Home ground Nickname Founded (Seniors) HamiltonCity WestPassmore Oval, WickhamHawks1968 Lake MacquarieNorth Lake MacquarieWalters Park, Speers PointRoos1929 (as Boolaroo) MaitlandLower Hunter ValleyMarcellin Park, LornBlacks1872 (as Albion Football Club) Merewether CarltonCity BeachesTownson Oval, MerewetherGreens1930 (as Cooks Hill Carlton 1887) Nelson BayPort StephensBill Strong Oval, Nelson BayGropers1983 SingletonUpper Hunter ValleyRugby Park, SingletonBulls1967 Southern BeachesLake Macquarie BeachesErnie Calland Oval, GatesheadBeaches1997 UniversityUniversity of NewcastleBernie Curran Oval, University Of NewcastleStudents1955 WanderersCity EastNo 2 Sportsground, Cooks HillTwo Blues1924 (as GPS Old Boys)
See also
List of Australian rugby union stadiums by capacity List of Australian rugby union teams
References
Notes