List of rugby union clubs in Australia

List of rugby union clubs in Australia
List of rugby union clubs in Australia
Country	Australia
Governing body	Australian Rugby Union
National team(s)	Australia
Nickname(s)	Wallabies
First played	25 July 1839, Sydney, New South Wales
Registered players	82,818 (total); 38,010 (adult)
Clubs	848
Club competitions
	Super Rugby; National Rugby Championship; Shute Shield; Queensland Premier Rugby; ACTRU Premier Division; Dewar Shield;
Audience records
Single match	109,874; Australia v New Zealand, (Telstra Stadium); 15 July 2000

The highest level of provincial rugby union in Australia is Super Rugby. There are four Australian teams in this competition, which also features teams from Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa.

For most of the history of the sport in Australia, the country has had 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, decided to discontinue the competition due to financial losses. The current national domestic league, the National Rugby Championship, was launched in 2014 with nine teams. From the demise of the ARC to the launch of the NRC, the top level competitions of the Shute Shield in Sydney and the Queensland Premier League in Brisbane served as the next highest level of club competition in the country. Numerous club and representative competitions serve the rugby playing community below these two competitions.

Super Rugby[]

National Competitions[]

National Rugby Championship[]

The National Rugby Championship (2014−2020) are a former annual competition held between professional teams from each state.

Former:

Sydney Stars (2014–2015)
Perth Spirit (2014–2017)
Greater Sydney Rams (2014–2017)

Australian Rugby Shield/NRC Division 2[]

The Australian Rugby Shield (from 2000 to 2008) and NRC Division 2 (2018 and 2020) are a former annual competition 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(former Melbourne Axemen)
New South Wales Country Cockatoos
Perth Gold
Queensland Country Heelers
Tasmania Jack Jumpers

New South Wales and ACT[]

New South Wales Rugby Union[]

Shute Shield[]

Former / Defunct teams:

Central Coast Waves
Canberra Kookaburras
Penrith

New South Wales Country Rugby Union[]

[]

Avoca Beach
Gosford
Kariong
Northlakes United
Ourimbah www.ourimbahrazorbacks.rugbynet.com.au
Southern Lakes
Terrigal
The Entrance
Warnervale
Woy Woy (woywoyrugby.com.au )

[]

Barraba
Gunnedah
Inverell
Moree http://www.moreerugby.com.au
Narrabri
Pirates (Tamworth)
Quirindi
Walcha
Scone

Former teams:

Tamworth^[3]
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 CWRU clubs:

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

[]

This union is officially affiliated with the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union instead of the NSW union.

Batemans Bay
Braidwood
Broulee
Sharks
Ulladulla
Vincentia

Illawarra Rugby Union[]

Avondale [1]
Bowral [2]
Bundanoon
Camden Rams camdenrugby.com.au
Lions Rugby
Kiama [3]
Shamrocks
Shoalhaven
Tech Waratahs [4]
University [5]
Vikings [6]
Wollondilly
Albion Park

[]

Coffs Harbour Snappers and Marlins
Hastings Valley Vikings
Kempsey Cannonballs
Port Macquarie Pirates
Bowraville Goannas
Bishop-Druit College Coffs Harbour Barracudas

Former clubs

Wauchope Thunder
Urunga-Bellinger valley rugby club
Nambucca River Breakers R.U.F.C

[ Southern Mid North Coast Rugby Union] •Wauchope thunder •Manning River Rats (Check MNC RUGBY on Facebook for more info)

[]

Glen Innes
Robb Rugby Club- https://archive.is/20130101010711/http://robbrugby.rugbynet.com.au/
St Albert's College
The Armidale Rugby Club (Blues)
Guyra Ghosts
Barbarians R.U.F.C.
Wright College Redmen (1958–73,1989–94, 2015- ) ^[4]
Tamworth (from 2018) ^[5]

Former NERU clubs:

Armidale City
Armidale Old Boys
City United (1994-2002)
Earle Page College (1964-1984 and 1989-1990)
Guy Fawkes Ebor
Gwydir River Rats (Bingara)
Hillgrove
Page-Wright Barbarians (1985-1988)
Teachers College (TC) - The Chalkies
Tenterfield Bumblebees
University College
United Colleges - The Dirty Ducks (1974–93)
Uralla Miners
Walcha Rams

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
Lake Macquarie
Southern Beaches
Muswellbrook
Pokolbin
Southern Lakes
Griffins

Southern Inland[]

This union is also affiliated with the ACT union instead of a NSW body.

[]

Bourke Rams
Brewarrina Brumbies
Cobar Camels
Coonamble Rams
Gulargambone Galahs
Bogan Bulls (Nyngan)
Walgett Rams
Warren Pumas

New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union[]

First Division

Second Division

Barker Old Boys
Blue Mountains
Forest
Hills
Hunters Hill
Newport
Waverley

Third Division

Beecroft
Brothers
Epping
Hawkesbury Valley
Kings Old Boys
Oatley
Old Ignatians
Redfield Old Boys
St Ives
UWS Hawkesbury

Fourth Division

Blacktown
Briars
Canterbury
Colleagues Convicts
Macquarie Uni
Rouse Hill

Fifth Division

not contested

Sixth Division

North-West
Chatswood
Collaroy
Dee Why
Lane Cove
Manly Savers
Merrylands (TBC)
Roseville
Terrey Hills
Wakehurst

South-East

Engadine
Burraneer
Fairvale/Lansvale
Maccabi
Menai
Wollondilly

Australian Capital Territory (including areas of southern New South Wales)[]

ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union[]

ACTRU Premier Division[]

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[]

[]

'A' & 'B' grade competition:

[]

Other teams[]

East Arnhem Rugby runs a junior rugby competition between April and August. While not part of a regular competition, East Arnhem Rugby provides competition for Senior Players by entering in 7's Tournaments.^[6]

Previously part of the Darwin Club Rugby B grade competition, the Bushratz are currently not fielding a team.