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.
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.[1]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.
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+).
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+.
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.
^Competed in the Sydney rugby premiership every season since 1900, apart from when relegated to the 2nd division in 1981 and 1984.
^Promoted to the Sydney rugby premiership in 1947, and competed in the premiership every season since then, apart from when relegated to the 2nd division in 1981. Epping Subbies and Eastwood subbies combined to create Eastwood Rugby.
^Not linked to the Gordon club that won the Sydney premiership in 1886. Competed in the Sydney rugby premiership every season since 1936, and never relegated to 2nd division.
^Competed in the Sydney rugby premiership every season since 1906, and never relegated to 2nd division.
^Originally formed as North Sydney. Competed in the Sydney rugby premiership every season since 1900, except for 1919 and when relegated to 2nd division from 1982–1989. Changed name to Northern Suburbs in 1928.
^Originally formed in 1879 as Cumberland, then played as Parramatta, in the Sydney rugby premiership up until the end of the 1899 season. Re-joined Sydney premiership in 1934 and played every season since. Never relegated to 2nd division. Rebranded as the Western Sydney Two Blues for the 2020 season.
^Originally formed in 1882 and played in the Sydney rugby premiership up to the end of the 1899 season, winning 4 premierships. Re-joined Sydney premiership in 1914, but did not play from 1919–22. Played every season since then and never relegated to 2nd division. Has won 28 premierships in post-1900 Sydney rugby premiership.
^Formed from merger of St. George (founded 1906) and Port Hacking (founded 1957 as North Cronulla SLSC rugby club).
^Originally formed in 1863 and played in the Sydney rugby premiership from its start in 1874, winning 9 premierships up until the end of the 1899 season. Competed in the Sydney rugby premiership every season since 1900, except for when relegated to 2nd division in 1979 and 1983. Has won 32 premierships in post-1900 Sydney rugby premiership.
^Formed in 1963 and played in 2nd division from 1964–1970, then promoted to 1st division in 1971. Never relegated to 2nd division.
^Originally formed as Western Suburbs. Competed in the Sydney rugby premiership every season from 1900 except for 1919, until relegated at the end of 1951. Played in the Sydney Sub-Districts competition (now the NSWSRU competition) from 1952–1961, then joined the 2nd division when it started in 1962. Played in 2nd division from 1962–65, then promoted to 1st division in 1966 and remained in the Sydney rugby premiership since, except for when relegated to 2nd division in 1980. Changed name to West Harbour in 1995.
^Played in Sydney rugby premiership as 'Newcastle Wildfires' from 1995–1999. Re-admitted as Hunter Wildfires in 2020.
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