Queensland Premier Rugby

Queensland Premier Rugby (QPR) evolved out of the Brisbane club competition that had been running since 1887. It was created by players, administrators, referees and coaches to expand and improve the top level of Queensland non-professional rugby. QPR provides Queensland rugby players a stepping stone for selection into the Queensland Reds and other teams in Super Rugby or other professional rugby competitions.

Previous to 1920, the Hospitals Challenge Cup was established as a fund-raising exercise for the Brisbane General Hospital. After the devastation of World War I the competition was suspended until the Hospitals Cup was established. The Brisbane Club competition recommenced in 1929.

The 1975 Grand Final was played between the Brothers club and GPS and Brothers won the match. Teachers-Norths, Wests and again Brothers won the next seasons. In 1979, the first ever draw in a final occurred with a 24-all draw between rivals University and Brothers, a reply of the final was held, which saw University defeat Brothers by a mere 3 points. Brothers dominated the next few seasons, winning the 1980 to 1984 premierships. Souths won their first title in 1986, and University won a number of titles at the end of the decade.

Souths came to major prominence during the 1990s, winning the competition five times in a row from 1991 through to 1995, and then again in 1998 and 2000. They also featured in the 1996 season final which GPS won, and the 1997 final which Easts won. Canberra also competed in the competition, and found major success, winning three titles in a row from 2001 to 2003. The Gold Coast Breakers also began to become a force in the competition, featuring in five finals from 2001 to 2007, although they were on the receiving end of the competitions largest ever grand final score being thrashed 85-19 by the Sunnybank Dragons in the 2007 Grand Final.

In future, teams from other Rugby regions in Queensland may also join the competition, thus encouraging the pursuit of Rugby excellence across the state, not just confining it Queensland's south-east corner. However at a meeting of the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union in October 2013, it was decided by the members not to compete in the 2014 QRU’s Premier Rugby Competition, but will instead focus its energy on becoming the leading force in regional rugby.[2]

Thomas Welsby Memorial Cup: The top two premier grade teams at the end of the first full round of home and away matches contest the Welsby Cup in their second round meeting. The cup was originally donated by Thomas Welsby.

Keith Horsley Memorial Trophy: Now presented to Premier Grade Minor Premiers. The trophy donated by the Family of Sgt Keith Thornton Horsley who was Killed in Action during WW2.

Doughty Challenge Shield: Named for businessman Hector R Doughty,[3] a former Queensland rugby representative, boxer and rower,[4] the Doughty Shield is awarded annually to the champion Brisbane club, based on competition points won across all participating grades.

Year	Premiers	Score	Runners-Up
2020	Eastern Districts	33–18	University of Queensland
2019	University of Queensland	31–26	Brothers
2018	GPS Old Boys	23–16	University of Queensland
2017	University of Queensland	23–14	GPS Old Boys
2016	Brothers	31–28	University of Queensland
2015	Southern Districts	39–12	Eastern Districts
2014	University of Queensland	20–18	Sunnybank
2013	Eastern Districts	27–22	GPS Old Boys
2012	University of Queensland	46–20	Sunnybank
2011	Sunnybank	35–24	Brothers
2010	University of Queensland	19–11	Sunshine Coast
2009	Brothers	26–19	Southern Districts
2008	Eastern Districts	22–21	Brothers
2007	Sunnybank	85–19	Gold Coast
2006	West Brisbane	23–22	Brothers
2005	Sunnybank	41–17	Gold Coast
2004	Gold Coast	24–18	University of Queensland
2003	Canberra	29–16	Gold Coast
2002	Canberra	45–3	Eastern Districts
2001	Canberra	32–10	Gold Coast
2000	Southern Districts	34–30	West Brisbane
1999	Eastern Districts	16–15	West Brisbane
1998	Southern Districts	34–18	West Brisbane
1997	Eastern Districts	18–16	Southern Districts
1996	GPS Old Boys	12–6	Southern Districts
1995	Southern Districts	27–11	Eastern Districts
1994	Southern Districts	19–8	Sunnybank
1993	Southern Districts	27–8	Sunnybank
1992	Southern Districts	44–10	University of Queensland
1991	Southern Districts	22–15	West Brisbane
1990	University of Queensland	19–10	Brothers
1989	University of Queensland	34–9	Southern Districts
1988	University of Queensland	18–10	Southern Districts
1987	Brothers	20–19	Southern Districts
1986	Southern Districts	31–13	Brothers
1985	West Brisbane	10–7	University of Queensland
1984	Brothers	18–3	Eastern Districts
1983	Brothers	30–15	University of Queensland
1982	Brothers	25–16	University of Queensland
1981	Brothers	36–13	North Brisbane
1980	Brothers	19–0	Southern Districts
1979	University of Queensland	16–13	Brothers
1978	Brothers	19–15	University of Queensland
1977	West Brisbane	15–10	Brothers
1976	Teachers-Norths	16–4	GPS Old Boys
1975	Brothers	23–6	GPS Old Boys
1974	Brothers	27–19	GPS Old Boys
1973	Brothers	20–10	GPS Old Boys
1972	GPS Old Boys	23–18	University of Queensland
1971	Brothers	17–3	Eastern Districts
1970	University of Queensland	24–6	GPS Old Boys
1969	University of Queensland	22–14	Brothers
1968	Brothers	17–6	University of Queensland
1967	University of Queensland	17–15	GPS Old Boys
1966	Brothers	36–9	University of Queensland
1965	University of Queensland	17–15	GPS Old Boys
1964	University of Queensland	29–9	Teachers
1963	Teachers	28–6	University of Queensland
1962	University of Queensland	18–12	Southern Districts
1961	GPS Old Boys	19–13	University of Queensland
1960	University of Queensland	11–6	Brothers
1959	Brothers	13–11	University of Queensland
1958	Southern Districts	9–5	University of Queensland
1957	University of Queensland	23–18	Southern Districts
1956	University of Queensland	19–6	GPS Old Boys
1955	University of Queensland	18–16	Southern Districts
1954	University of Queensland	19–3	GPS Old Boys
1953	Brothers	11–9	University of Queensland
1952	University of Queensland	11–3	Brothers
1951	Brothers	17–6	GPS Old Boys
1950	Brothers	21–10	University of Queensland
1949	Brothers	13–8	University of Queensland
1948	University of Queensland	21–18	GPS Old Boys
1947	University of Queensland	8–6	Brothers
1946	Brothers	11–6	GPS Old Boys

Total Premierships (since 1946)

• B.G.S. Old Boys, Y.M.C.A., Valleys, Wynnum, Past Commercials/Technical College Old Boys
• West End, South Brisbane, Combined High School Old Boys, Starlights (Ipswich)
• Valley Playground Old Boys, Eagle Junction, New Farm, Bretts-Windsor
• Mayne, Windsor, R.A.A.F.
• Maristonians, Police, Northern Districts
• United Services, R.A.A.F. Amberley, Army
• Teachers, Gold Coast Eagles, Q.I.T./Colleges, Ipswich Rangers
• Redcliffe, Teachers-Norths, Kenmore
• Canberra Vikings, Sunshine Coast Stingrays, Gold Coast Breakers

• Australian club championship rugby union
• Queensland Suburban Rugby Union
• Brisbane City
• Queensland Reds
• National Rugby Championship

• Queensland Premier Rugby
• Queensland Rugby Club