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.
Many foundation dates displayed on Australian rugby club badges and websites from the late 19th century reflect the broader local rugby provenance of the area or a namesake predecessor, rather than an unbroken, continuous history of the current club.
Super Rugby New South Wales Waratahs Queensland Reds ACT Brumbies Western Force Former:
Melbourne Rebels (2011-2024)
National Competitions
National Rugby Championship The National Rugby Championship (2014−2020) was a former annual competition held between professional teams from each state. Brisbane City Canberra Vikings Melbourne Rising New South Wales Country Eagles Western Force Queensland Country Sydney Rays
Sydney Stars (2014–2015) Perth Spirit (2014–2017) Greater Sydney Rams (2014–2017)
Australian Rugby Shield/NRC Division 2 The Australian Rugby Shield (2000-2008) and NRC Division 2 (2018-2020) were former annual competitions held between amateur representative teams from each state. ACT & Southern NSW Vikings (only in Australian Rugby Shield) Adelaide Black Falcons Northern Territory Mosquitoes Victoria Country Barbarians (formerly Melbourne Axemen) New South Wales Country Cockatoos Perth Gold Queensland Country Heelers Tasmania Jack Jumpers
New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales Rugby Union
Shute Shield Eastern Suburbs Eastwood Gordon Hunter Wildfires Manly Northern Suburbs Parramatta Randwick Southern Districts Sydney University Warringah West Harbour
Former: Central Coast Waves Canberra Kookaburras Penrith
New South Wales Country Rugby Union
Central Coast Rugby Union Avoca Beach Gosford Kariong Lake Macquarie Northlakes United Ourimbah Razorbacks Terrigal The Bay Warnervale Woy Woy
Former: The Entrance Gosford Kariong
Central Northern Rugby Union Barraba Rams & Gwydir River Rats Gunnedah Red Devils Inverell Highlanders Moree Weebolla Bulls Narrabri Blue Boars Quirindi Lions Scone Brumbies Tamworth Pirates Walcha Rams
Former: Tamworth Rugby Union Sporting Club Croppa Creek Crows
Central West Rugby Union Bathurst Bulldogs Bathurst City Blayney Canowindra Pythons Coolah Coonabarabran Kookaburras Cowra Eagles CSU - Bathurst Cudal Cobras Dubbo Kangaroos Dubbo Rhinos Forbes Platypi Geurie Goats Rugby Club Molong Magpies Mudgee Wombats Narromine Gorillas Orange City Orange Emus Orange Waratahs Parkes Boars Trangie Tigers USO - Orange Wellington Redbacks Yeoval Former: Blackheath Wildfires Cudal Lithgow Devils Oberon Rydal Razorbacks
Far North Coast Rugby Union Ballina Bangalow Byron Bay Casino Casuarina Evans River Iluka Kyogle Lennox Head Lismore Mullumbimby Murwillumbah Richmond Range Southern Cross University Wollongbar/Alstonville Woolgoolga Whitepointers Yamba
Illawarra Rugby Union Albion Park Avondale Bowral Bundanoon Camden Rams Lions Rugby Kiama Shamrocks Shoalhaven Tech Waratahs University Vikings Wollondilly
Mid North Coast Rugby Union Northern Division: Bishop-Druitt College Coffs Harbour Barracudas Bowraville Goannas Coffs Harbour Snappers Grafton Redmen Hastings Valley Vikings Kempsey Cannonballs Port Macquarie Pirates Southern Cross University Marlins
Southern Division: Forster-Tuncurry Dolphins Gloucester Cockatoos Manning River Ratz Old Bar Clams Wallamba Bulls Wauchope Thunder
Former: Urunga-Bellinger valley rugby club (Northern) Nambucca River Breakers R.U.F.C (Northern)
New England Rugby Union Glen Innes Rugby Club Robb Rugby Club St Albert's College Rugby Club Armidale Blues Rugby Club Barbarians R.U.F.C. Walcha R.U.F.C.
Tamworth Rugby Union Sporting Club
Former: Armidale City Armidale Old Boys City United Earle Page College Guy Fawkes Ebor Guyra Ghosts Gwydir River Rats Hillgrove Page-Wright Barbarians Teachers College Tenterfield Bumblebees University College United Colleges Uralla Miners
Wright College Redmen
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.
Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union Singleton Nelson Bay Waratahs Wanderers Merewether Carlton Rugby Club Hamilton Hawks University Maitland Southern Beaches Muswellbrook Pokolbin Southern Lakes Griffins
Southern Inland Rugby Union This union is also affiliated with the ACT union instead of a NSW body.
Western Plains Rugby Union
Bourke Rams Brewarrina Brumbies Cobar Camels Coonamble Rams Gulargambone Galahs Bogan Bulls (Nyngan) Walgett Rams Warren Pumas
New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union
Division 1https://rugbyresults.fusesport.com/page/Division-One-x-691-132-586.html Blue Mountains Rugby Club Colleagues Drummoyne Hunters Hill Rugby Club Lindfield Mosman Newport Waverley
Division 2https://rugbyresults.fusesport.com/page/Division-Two-x-694-132-587.html Briars Forest Petersham Sydney Irish St Patrick's University of New South Wales Rugby union Club
Division 3https://rugbyresults.fusesport.com/page/Division-Three-x-695-132-596.html Beecroft Blacktown Hills Hornsby Knox Lane Cove Old Ignatians Rugby Football Club
Division 4https://rugbyresults.fusesport.com/page/Division-Four-x-6654-132-14495.html Balmain Chatswood Kings Old Boys Macquarie Uni St Ives Wakehurst
Division 5 - McLean Cuphttps://rugbyresults.fusesport.com/page/Division-Five-x-706-132-597.html Canterbury Rugby Club Epping Hawkesbury Valley Rugby Club Maccabi Redfield Old Boys Rugby Club Renegades Rugby Sydney Harlequins Rugby Football Club Western Raptors Rugby Club
Division 6 - Meldrum Cup Burraneer Rugby Club Georges River Rugby Club Manly Savers Rugby Club Merrylands Rugby Club North Cronulla S.L.S.C. Oatley Rugby Club Penrith Rugby Club Sydney Harbour Rugby Club
Clubs not currently competing with first grade XVs
Old Barker Rugby Club Collaroy Dee Why ICMS Lane Cove Roseville Terrey Hills UWS Hawkesbury Brothers Colleagues Convicts
Alexandria Engadine Clovelly Fairvale/Lansvale Menai Wollondilly
Australian Capital Territory (including areas of southern New South Wales)
ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union
ACTRU Premier Division
Easts Gungahlin Eagles Queanbeyan Whites Canberra Royals Tuggeranong Vikings Uni-Norths Owls Wests Lions
The following teams compete in first and second division competitions Boorowa Rugby Club Bungendore RUFC Cooma Rugby Club Crookwell Rugby Club Defence Academy Rugby Club Goulburn Rugby Union Hall Rugby Club Harden RUFC Jindabyne Rugby Club RMC Rugby Club Taralga RUFC Yass RUFC
South Coast Zone
Batemans Bay RUFC Bega Valley RUFC Bermagui-Cobargo Sharks RC Bombala Rugby Club Braidwood RUFC Broulee Dolphins RUFC Milton Rugby Club Narooma & Districts Whales RC
Southern Inland Zone
Albury-Wodonga RUFC Cootamundra RUFC Denilquin Drovers Grenfell Rugby Club Griffith RUFC Hay Cutters Leeton Phantoms RUFC Rivcoll Red RUFC Temora RUFC Tumut RUFC Wagga Agricultural College RUFC Wagga City RUFC Wagga Wagga Crows Junior Rugby Union Wagga Waratahs RUFC West Wyalong Junior Rugby Union Young RUFC
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Rugby Union
Darwin Club Rugby The following clubs run teams in both A and B Grade Men's competitions and a team in the Women's competition: Casuarina Cougars Darwin Dragons Palmerston Crocs South Darwin Rabbitohs Swampdogs University Pirates
Central Australian Club Competition Source: Dingo Cubs RUFC Devils RUFC Eagles RUFC Kiwi Warriors RUFC
Queensland
Queensland Rugby Union
Queensland Premier Rugby Brothers Old Boys Easts Tigers Rugby Union Bond University Rugby Club GPS North Brisbane Rugby Club Souths Sunnybank Rugby Union Club University of Queensland Rugby Club Wests
Queensland Country Rugby Union
Bundaberg and District Rugby Union Alloway Falcons Bundaberg Barbarians East Coast Buccaneers Isis Crushers
Cairns and District Rugby Union Barron-Trinity Bulls Brothers Rugby Union (Cairns) Cairns Old Crocs Rugby Union Cairns Wanderers Innisfail & District Rugby JCU Mariners Port Douglas Rugby Union Southside Crusaders Sports & Culture Tablelands Rugby
Central Highlands Rugby Union Capella Rugby Union Clermont Rugby Union Emerald Rugby Moranbah Bulls Rolleston Rugby Union
Central Queensland Rugby Union Biloela Rugby Blackwater Rugby Brothers Rugby Union (Rockhampton) Capricorn Coast Rugby Colts Rugby Club Dawson Valley Rugby Club Frenchville Pioneers Gladstone Rugby Club Mount Morgan Rugby Rockhampton Boars University Central Queensland Rugby
Darling Downs Rugby Union Condamine Rugby Union Dalby and District Rugby Union Football Club Goondiwindi Rugby Highfields Redbacks Rugby Union Roma Rugby Union South Burnett Rugby St George & District Rugby Toowoomba Bears Rugby Toowoomba Rangers Rugby University Of Southern Queensland Rugby Warwick & Districts Rugby
Mackay District Rugby Union Bowen Rugby Brothers Rugby Union (Mackay) City Rugby Club (Mackay) Kuttabul Rugby Proserpine/Whitsunday Rugby Union Slade Point Rugby
Mt Isa Rugby Union Cloncurry Rugby Euros Rugby Union Keas Rugby Warrigals Rugby
Gold Coast District Rugby Union Beaudesert Rugby Football Club Bond University Rugby Club Bond Pirates Rugby Club Casuarina Beach Rugby Club Colleges Rugby Club Coolangatta Tweed Barbarians Coomera Crushers RU Gold Coast Eagles Griffith University Colleges Knights Rugby Union Club Helensvale Hogs RUC Hinterland Celtics Rugby Club Nerang Bulls RUC Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators RUC Surfers Paradise Dolphins Tamborine Mountain Rugby
Sunshine Coast Rugby Union Caboolture Rugby Union Caloundra Rugby Union Fraser Coast Rugby Union Gympie Rugby Union Maroochydore Rugby Union Nambour Rugby Union Noosa District Rugby Union University of the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union
Townsville and Districts Rugby Union Brothers Rugby Union (Townsville) Burdekin Rugby Union Charters Towers Rugby Union Ingham Rugby Union James Cook University of North Queensland Rugby Union North Ward Old Boys Rugby Ross River Redskins Teachers West Rugby Union Western Suburbs Rugby Union
Western Queensland Rugby Union Barcaldine Rugby Union Collegians Rugby Union Longreach Rugby Union
Queensland Suburban Rugby Union List does not include Queensland Premier Rugby clubs that also field teams in the Suburban competitions. Ag Vet Rugby Union Beenleigh and District Rugby Union Brisbane Irish Rugby Football Club Easts Longhorns Rugby Union