RugbyWA
The Western Australia Rugby Union (RugbyWA) is the governing body of rugby union in Western Australia. It was founded in 1893 and the inaugural 4 team competition commenced in 1895. The highest competition run by the union is the RugbyWA FMG Premier Grade.
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Western Australia |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Affiliation | Rugby Australia |
| Affiliation date | 1949 |
| Headquarters | Underwood Avenue |
| CEO | Nathan Charles |
| (founded) | Western Australian Rugby Union |
| Official website | |
| wa | |
 | |
The Union was founded in 1893. The inaugural 4 team competition commenced in 1895 with the I Zingari, Fremantle, Swans and Midland Junction Club's taking part. The WARU Senior Grade competition was contested from 1895 to 1913.
The Rugby Football code went into recess in the west from the 1914 season until 1928 when 4 Clubs; Wanderers, Rangers, Wallabies and Fremantle revived the First Grade Club Competition.
In 2004, RugbyWA successfully secured the fourth Australian Super 12 licence, entering a team in the expanded Super 14 competition from 2006, called the Western Force. RugbyWA has also established a series of development programs. The development team is the Perth Spirit, which has competed in the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007 and the National Rugby Championship since 2014.
Structure
There are currently 10 RugbyWA Board Members, President, D G Redpath who was re-elected in March 2012. Dr R J Perry is the current Chairman and Mr Arthur Hill is the current Patron.
The RugbyWA is a not-for-profit organisation run by its shareholding organisations – WA clubs and affiliated bodies (juniors, schools, referees, women's and country rugby). RugbyWA incorporates both Professional and Community Rugby. There is no private ownership of RugbyWA with profit generated re-invested into the game at all levels in Western Australia.
Clubs
Premier Grade (1st Grade)
| Est. | Colours | Club | Location | Home ground | Premierships* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 |  |
ARKs Harrissdale | Harrissdale | Harrissdale Community Oval | N/A |
| 1948 |  |
Associates | Swanbourne | Allen Park | 9 (2018) |
| 1893 |  |
Cottesloe | Cottesloe | Harvey Field | 12 (2021) |
| 1998 |  |
Joondalup Brothers | Joondalup | HBF Arena | N/A |
| 1974 |  |
Kalamunda | Forrestfield | Hartfield Park | 1 (2008) |
| 1934 |  |
Nedlands | Nedlands | Charles Court Reserve | 16 (2015) |
| 1934 |  |
Palmyra | Alfred Cove | Tompkins Park | 2 (1991) |
| 1906 |  |
Perth Bayswater | Morley | Pat O'Hara Reserve | 3 (2007)* |
| 1973 |  |
Rockingham | Rockingham | Lark Hill | N/A |
| 1987 |  |
Southern Lions | Success | Success Oval | N/A |
| 1929 |  |
Uni. of WA | Mount Claremont | UWA Sports Park | 5 (2014) |
| 1981 |  |
Wanneroo | Kingsway | Kingsway Reserve | N/A |
| 1930 |  |
Wests Scarborough | Doubleview | Bennett Park | 12 (2022)* |
- 1 of the 3 premierships won by Perth Bayswater was won as Perth-Suburbs
- 5 of the 12 premierships won by Wests Scarborough were won as Western Suburbs and 3 of the 12 premierships won by Wests Scarborough as Wests-Scarborough
*"(year)" Denotes the last year they won the premiership.
Notable players
- Bob Thompson first player selected to play for the Wallabies from a WA Club
- John Welborn (retired, first Western Australian born to represent the Wallabies) – NSW Waratahs, Sharks, Leicester Tigers, CA Brive, Western Force, Australia
- Brett Sheehan – NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Australia
- Adam Wallace-Harrison – ACT Brumbies, Australia A
- Kieran Longbottom – Western Force
- Dane Haylett-Petty – Western Force, Australia
- Scott Higginbotham – Queensland Reds
- David Collis – Queensland Reds
- Darren Murphy – Queensland A
- Will Brock – Perth Spirit, Australia sevens
- Daniel Montagu – Nottingham R.F.C., Leicester Tigers
- Ryan Tyrrell – Perth Spirit
- Dan Bailey – Perth Spirit
- Salesi Ma'afu – Western Force, Joondalup Brothers RUFC
Other Leagues
Other Perth Grades
- ARKs
- Bunbury
- Mandurah
- Perth Irish Rugby
- Southern Lions
- Swan Suburbs
South West Competition
- Collie
- Dunsborough
- Leeuwin-Margaret River
Great Southern Competition
- Albany Denmark
- Dryandra-Narrogin
- Katanning
- Mount Barker
Eastern Goldfields Competition
- Boulder
- Bushwackers
- Kambalda
- Stormers
- WA School of Mines
Representative teams
The Western Force compete in the National Rugby Championship, until the competition got postponed in 2020 because of Covid-19. Perth Gold team competes in the NRC Division 2 tournament.[1] From 2000 to 2008 and from 2022, it played in the Australian Rugby Shield.
Honours
- 2019 NRC Division 2 Champions (defeated NSW Country 15-5)
- Australian Rugby Shield Winners (2003, 2005)
See also
References
- "NRCII tournament comes to Adelaide". Rugby Union SA. 5 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019.