Dewar Shield

The Dewar Shield is a rugby union competition in Melbourne. It is the premier amateur rugby competition in Victoria. A total of ten teams from the Victorian Rugby Union compete for the Shield. Clubs must field teams in 3 grades, Dewar Shield Reserves (Penwill Cup) and Dewar Shield 3rd Grade (Mawhinney Cup), to be eligible to compete.

A "Game of the week" is streamed on the Rugby Victoria Facebook Page.

History

The Victorian Rugby Union senior competition was established in 1909 with five teams, namely East Melbourne, Melbourne Unicorns, South Melbourne, St Kilda and University. Melbourne Unircorns won the first year of the five-team competition for the new trophy the Dewar Shield (donated by the Scotch Whisky Distillery John Dewar and Sons). One hundred years later in 2009 Melbourne Unicorns once again won the premiership defeating Box Hill in the Grand Final for the same Dewar Shield.

The Current (2026) Premiers are Power House who defeated Harlequins 39-36 in the Grand Final held at Box Hill

2026 was the 100th time the Dewar Shield had been awarded, due to the competition not being run during War Years, with Power House successfully defending their crown to win the historic 100th Grand Final and to complete a "Threepeat", having won the two years before.

The Premier competition is contested by ten clubs with each club fielding two teams (1st Grade, Reserve Grade). Other senior competitions offered are Metro 2nd Division with an A, B & C Grade, Colts (U20), Country, Women and Masters (over 35s).

A number of clubs have dominated the 1st Grade over the years. Melbourne Unicorns has the most number of Premierships with 20. Moorabbin holds the record for consecutive Premierships, winning six in a row from 1981 to 1986. Other prominent clubs during this 100-year period include Melbourne University, Power House and Navy.

Footscray and Endeavour Hills were promoted to the Premier division for the 2011 season.

Dewar Shield Clubs

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

Winners Victorian Rugby Union Premiership winners

Former clubs (list may not be complete) East Melbourne South Melbourne St Kilda Hawthorn Kiwi Navy R.A.A.F Boroondara South Melbourne Southern Districtsb Geelong Northcote/Northern

b Southern Districts now play in the Premiership competition.

Dewar Shield

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