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Rugby Victoria

September 17, 2023

Not to be confused with Victorian Rugby League.

Rugby Victoria, formerly the Victorian Rugby Union, is a member and founding union of Rugby Australia. Within the state of Victoria, it is the governing body for the sport of rugby union.

Rugby Victoria
SportRugby union
Founded1888
(Melbourne R.U.)
refounded VRU
1893, 1909, 1926,
renamed Rugby
Victoria in 2017
 (1888
(Melbourne R.U.)
refounded VRU
1893, 1909, 1926,
renamed Rugby
Victoria in 2017
)
RA affiliation1949
(founding member)
Websitewww.rugbyvic.com.au

Rugby Victoria manages competitions for males and females in several age groups and divisions, and involving clubs from metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Rugby union was founded in Melbourne in 1888. However competition lapsed and was twice re-established during the first twenty years, and again after the first World War when the present governing body was founded in 1926, then known as the Victorian Rugby Union, or VRU.[1]

In December 2017, the VRU was re-branded as Rugby Victoria.[2]

History Edit

For a more detailed history of the game in Victoria, see Rugby union in Victoria§History.

Early years: 1888 to 1945 Edit

The Melbourne Rugby Union was established in 1888 and the first two clubs were founded in that year.[1] Later that season, a Victorian team was selected to play the British side known then as the "English Footballers" but now recognised as the First British Lions team.[3]

The visitors won the match, 9-3. Melbourne's club competition ceased in 1890 but a new administrative body, the Victorian Rugby Union, was formed in 1893. The Victorians played their first inter-colonial rugby match in 1894, beating South Wales by 3-0 at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Competition lapsed again after the Victorians were defeated 30-0 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) by the British Lions in 1899, but the Victorian Rugby Union was re-formed in 1908. Australia played Victoria at the MCG in August of that year, on their way to Great Britain for what became known as the First Wallabies Tour.

Of the seven clubs comprising the new Union in 1909, Melbourne, East Melbourne, South Melbourne and University were the first to compete for the Dewar Shield, a trophy which is still awarded today to the premier first grade team. Competition ceased during the First World War and recommenced under a re-established VRU in 1926.

The subsequent decade later became known as the Golden Years of Victorian Rugby and included the selection of the first Victorian-born player to represent Australia, Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop, in 1932. Dave Cowper, who played for the Melbourne Rugby Club and represented Victoria in the 1930s became Victoria's first, and so far only, Wallaby captain in 1933.

In 1939, four Victorian players were selected in the Wallaby side to tour Europe: Andy Barr, Max Carpenter, Stan Bisset and George Pearson.[4] However the tour was prematurely ended by Britain's declaration of war on Germany just two days after the team arrived at Plymouth on 2 September 1939, with all sport in Britain cancelled.[5]

Amateur rugby: 1945 to 1995 Edit

 
Logo until late 2017

In 1958, the first test match in Victoria was staged at Olympic Park Stadium, with Australia hosting the Maoris.

Modern era: 1996 onward Edit

For the history of the Melbourne Rebels team in Super Rugby, see Melbourne Rebels.

The Victorian Rugby Union (VRU) bid unsuccessfully for the fourth Australian Super 14 licence, which eventually went to the Western Force prior to the 2006 season. However, New South Wales gave up a fourth franchise for the Australian Rugby Championship, allowing Victoria to field the Melbourne Rebels in that competition.[citation needed]

In November 2009, SANZAR announced that Australia had won the 15th Super rugby franchise licence, and the Australian Rugby Union awarded it to the Melbourne Rebels consortium led by media magnate Harold Mitchell.[citation needed] The VRU did not initially own or run the Melbourne Rebels.

On 27 June 2013, the Rebels announced that foundation shareholders Harold Mitchell AC, Bob Dalziel, Lyndsey Cattermole, Alan Winney, Ralph D'Silva, Gary Gray, Paul Kirk, Leon L'Huillier, David Ogilvy and Michael Bartlett had transferred 100% of their shares to the Victorian Rugby Union.[citation needed] The two organizations combined operations as a result of the transfer with Ross Oakley concluding his tenure as CEO of the VRU once the transfer was made. Rebels CEO Rob Clarke took responsibility for both organizations. Jonathan Ling became the chairman of the Melbourne Rebels, replacing Harold Mitchell.[citation needed] Peter Leahy was appointed General Manager of Community Rugby to oversee the operations of local competitions and all Victorian Community Rugby activities.

Current competition Edit

Victoria has twenty-six rugby clubs as of 2022. Senior player numbers have grown from 1,400 in 1998 to well over 2,200 in 2012. Teams in the competition have grown from 4 in 1909 to 173 in 2013.

The eight teams that play for the Shield in the domestic Premier 1 Division are:

As of 2018, Rugby Victoria has seven teams in their senior women's competition.

Representative teams Edit

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Victoria Country Barbarians

The Victoria Country Barbarians team competed in the NRC Division 2 tournament from 2018 to 2019.[6] From 2000 to 2008, the Melbourne Axemen played in the Australian Rugby Shield. In 2022 the team was renamed Victorian Axemen

Honours Edit

  • Australian Rugby Shield Winners (2007)

See also Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  2. ^ "A new chapter begins for rugby in Victoria". rugbyvic.com.au. 4 December 2017. from the original on 16 March 2018.
  3. ^ "IRB Hall of Fame 2013 Induction: "The British & Irish Lions and Australia"" (PDF) (Press release). International Rugby Board. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  4. ^ "For England: Rugby Players Leave". The Age. Melbourne. 20 July 1939. p. 6 col. 5. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Rugby Union team returning". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 6 September 1939. p. 11, col. 4. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  6. ^ . Rugby Union SA. 5 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019.

External links Edit

  • Rugby Victoria official website
  • Melbourne Rebels
  • "A History of Rugby in Victoria". from the original on 30 December 2014.

Archives Edit

September 17, 2023
rugby, victoria, confused, with, victorian, rugby, league, formerly, victorian, rugby, union, member, founding, union, rugby, australia, within, state, victoria, governing, body, sport, rugby, union, sportrugby, unionfounded1888, melbourne, refounded, vru1893,. Not to be confused with Victorian Rugby League Rugby Victoria formerly the Victorian Rugby Union is a member and founding union of Rugby Australia Within the state of Victoria it is the governing body for the sport of rugby union Rugby VictoriaSportRugby unionFounded1888 Melbourne R U refounded VRU1893 1909 1926 renamed RugbyVictoria in 2017 1888 Melbourne R U refounded VRU1893 1909 1926 renamed RugbyVictoria in 2017 RA affiliation1949 founding member Websitewww wbr rugbyvic wbr com wbr auRugby Victoria manages competitions for males and females in several age groups and divisions and involving clubs from metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria Rugby union was founded in Melbourne in 1888 However competition lapsed and was twice re established during the first twenty years and again after the first World War when the present governing body was founded in 1926 then known as the Victorian Rugby Union or VRU 1 In December 2017 the VRU was re branded as Rugby Victoria 2 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early years 1888 to 1945 1 2 Amateur rugby 1945 to 1995 1 3 Modern era 1996 onward 2 Current competition 3 Representative teams 3 1 Honours 4 See also 5 References 6 External links 6 1 ArchivesHistory EditFor a more detailed history of the game in Victoria see Rugby union in Victoria History Early years 1888 to 1945 Edit The Melbourne Rugby Union was established in 1888 and the first two clubs were founded in that year 1 Later that season a Victorian team was selected to play the British side known then as the English Footballers but now recognised as the First British Lions team 3 The visitors won the match 9 3 Melbourne s club competition ceased in 1890 but a new administrative body the Victorian Rugby Union was formed in 1893 The Victorians played their first inter colonial rugby match in 1894 beating South Wales by 3 0 at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground Competition lapsed again after the Victorians were defeated 30 0 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground MCG by the British Lions in 1899 but the Victorian Rugby Union was re formed in 1908 Australia played Victoria at the MCG in August of that year on their way to Great Britain for what became known as the First Wallabies Tour Of the seven clubs comprising the new Union in 1909 Melbourne East Melbourne South Melbourne and University were the first to compete for the Dewar Shield a trophy which is still awarded today to the premier first grade team Competition ceased during the First World War and recommenced under a re established VRU in 1926 The subsequent decade later became known as the Golden Years of Victorian Rugby and included the selection of the first Victorian born player to represent Australia Sir Edward Weary Dunlop in 1932 Dave Cowper who played for the Melbourne Rugby Club and represented Victoria in the 1930s became Victoria s first and so far only Wallaby captain in 1933 In 1939 four Victorian players were selected in the Wallaby side to tour Europe Andy Barr Max Carpenter Stan Bisset and George Pearson 4 However the tour was prematurely ended by Britain s declaration of war on Germany just two days after the team arrived at Plymouth on 2 September 1939 with all sport in Britain cancelled 5 Amateur rugby 1945 to 1995 Edit nbsp Logo until late 2017This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it May 2018 In 1958 the first test match in Victoria was staged at Olympic Park Stadium with Australia hosting the Maoris Modern era 1996 onward Edit For the history of the Melbourne Rebels team in Super Rugby see Melbourne Rebels The Victorian Rugby Union VRU bid unsuccessfully for the fourth Australian Super 14 licence which eventually went to the Western Force prior to the 2006 season However New South Wales gave up a fourth franchise for the Australian Rugby Championship allowing Victoria to field the Melbourne Rebels in that competition citation needed In November 2009 SANZAR announced that Australia had won the 15th Super rugby franchise licence and the Australian Rugby Union awarded it to the Melbourne Rebels consortium led by media magnate Harold Mitchell citation needed The VRU did not initially own or run the Melbourne Rebels On 27 June 2013 the Rebels announced that foundation shareholders Harold Mitchell AC Bob Dalziel Lyndsey Cattermole Alan Winney Ralph D Silva Gary Gray Paul Kirk Leon L Huillier David Ogilvy and Michael Bartlett had transferred 100 of their shares to the Victorian Rugby Union citation needed The two organizations combined operations as a result of the transfer with Ross Oakley concluding his tenure as CEO of the VRU once the transfer was made Rebels CEO Rob Clarke took responsibility for both organizations Jonathan Ling became the chairman of the Melbourne Rebels replacing Harold Mitchell citation needed Peter Leahy was appointed General Manager of Community Rugby to oversee the operations of local competitions and all Victorian Community Rugby activities Current competition EditVictoria has twenty six rugby clubs as of 2022 update Senior player numbers have grown from 1 400 in 1998 to well over 2 200 in 2012 Teams in the competition have grown from 4 in 1909 to 173 in 2013 The eight teams that play for the Shield in the domestic Premier 1 Division are Melbourne University Rugby Football Club Parkville Harlequin Rugby Union Club Ashwood Melbourne Rugby Union Football Club Prahran Power House Rugby Union Football Club Albert Park Box Hill Rugby Union Football Club Box Hill Endeavour Hills Rugby Union Football Club Endeavour Hills Moorabbin Rugby Club Moorabbin Footscray Rugby Union Football Club Footscray As of 2018 update Rugby Victoria has seven teams in their senior women s competition Representative teams Edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Victoria Country BarbariansThe Victoria Country Barbarians team competed in the NRC Division 2 tournament from 2018 to 2019 6 From 2000 to 2008 the Melbourne Axemen played in the Australian Rugby Shield In 2022 the team was renamed Victorian Axemen Honours Edit Australian Rugby Shield Winners 2007 See also Edit nbsp Australia portal nbsp Sports portalRugby union in Victoria Melbourne Rebels Melbourne Rising Dewar ShieldReferences Edit a b About VRU Archived from the original on 18 January 2013 Retrieved 9 April 2013 A new chapter begins for rugby in Victoria rugbyvic com au 4 December 2017 Archived from the original on 16 March 2018 IRB Hall of Fame 2013 Induction The British amp Irish Lions and Australia PDF Press release International Rugby Board Retrieved 5 December 2013 For England Rugby Players Leave The Age Melbourne 20 July 1939 p 6 col 5 Retrieved 20 May 2018 Rugby Union team returning The Courier Mail Brisbane 6 September 1939 p 11 col 4 Retrieved 20 May 2018 NRCII tournament comes to Adelaide Rugby Union SA 5 September 2019 Archived from the original on 24 September 2019 External links EditRugby Victoria official website Melbourne Rebels A History of Rugby in Victoria Archived from the original on 30 December 2014 Archives Edit Former Victorian Rugby Union official website at the Wayback Machine archived 7 April 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rugby Victoria amp oldid 1153602907, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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