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.
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Western Australia |
| Abbreviation | RugbyWA |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Official website | |
| wa | |
History
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.
Premier Grade
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1928 |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Country |  Western Australia |
| Holders | Cottesloe (2020) |
| Most titles |  Nedlands (15 titles) |
| Website | https://wa.rugby/competitions/wa-premier?id=eyyvuKTg8AcGB7iYr |
The Premier Grade is the highest level of Western Australia domestic club rugby union competition, contested annually from early April to mid August.
It is managed by the Western Australia Rugby Union (RugbyWA).
The FMG Premier Grade was named for lead sponsor Fortescue Metals Group. Previous naming rights sponsors include PINDAN, KWIK and Home Building Society.
Premiers (since 1963)
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 2020 |  Cottesloe |
| 2019 | Cottesloe |
| 2018 |  Associates |
| 2017 |  Wests-Scarborough |
| 2016 | Wests-Scarborough |
| 2015 | Nedlands |
| 2014 | UWA |
| 2013 | Nedlands |
| 2012 | Associates |
| 2011 | UWA |
| 2010 | Nedlands |
| 2009 | Cottesloe |
| 2008 |  Kalamunda |
| 2007 |  Perth-Bayswater |
| 2006 | Wests-Subiaco |
| 2005 | Wests-Subiaco |
| 2004 | Wests-Subiaco |
| 2003 | Wests-Subiaco |
| 2002 | Associates |
| 2001 | Cottesloe |
| 2000 | Nedlands |
| 1999 | Nedlands |
| 1998 | Associates |
| 1997 | Associates |
| 1996 | Perth-Bayswater |
| 1995 | Nedlands |
| 1994 | Nedlands |
| 1993 | Nedlands |
| 1992 | Cottesloe |
| 1991 |  Palmyra |
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Nedlands |
| 1989 | Nedlands |
| 1988 | Cottesloe |
| 1987 | Palmyra |
| 1986 | Nedlands |
| 1985 | Cottesloe |
| 1984 | Cottesloe |
| 1983 | Cottesloe |
| 1982 | Cottesloe |
| 1981 | Nedlands |
| 1980 | Nedlands |
| 1979 | Cottesloe |
| 1978 | Nedlands |
| 1977 | Western Suburbs |
| 1976 | Western Suburbs |
| 1975 | Western Suburbs |
| 1974 | Western Suburbs |
| 1973 | Nedlands |
| 1972 | UWA |
| 1971 | Western Suburbs |
| 1970 | Nedlands |
| 1969 | Perth-Suburbs |
| 1968 | UWA |
| 1967 | UWA |
| 1966 | Associates |
| 1965 | Associates |
| 1964 | Associates |
| 1963 | Associates |
Recent Grand Final Results (Premier Grade):
2020 - Cottesloe 22 def. Associates 21
2019 – Cottesloe 17 def. Nedlands 10
2018 – Associates 23 def. Kalamunda 10
2017 – Wests Scarborough 27 def. Associates 15
2016 – Wests Scarborough 45 def. Nedlands 24 (Extra Time needed – Full Time score 24–24)
2015 – Nedlands 39 def. Wests Scarborough 27
2014 – UWA 16 def. Cottesloe 13
2013 – Nedlands 20 def. Cottesloe 14
2012 – Associates 23 def. Nedlands 17
2011 – UWA 15 def. Nedlands 13
2010 - Nedlands
2009 - Cottesloe def. Palmyra
2008 - Kalamunda def. Wanneroo
2007 - Perth Bayswater 15 def. Nedlands 13
2006 - Wests Subiaco 14 def. Nedlands 14
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
Clubs
Premier Grade (1st Grade)
Associates Cottesloe Curtin University Joondalup Brothers RUFC Kalamunda Nedlands Palmyra Perth-Bayswater UWA Wanneroo Wests Scarborough
Other Perth Grades
ARKS Mandurah Swan Suburbs Rockingham Southern Lions Bunbury Perth Irish Rugby
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
Perth Gold team competes in the NRC Division 2 tournament.[1] From 2000 to 2008, it played in the Australian Rugby Shield.
Honours
- 2019 NRC Division 2 Champions (defeated NSW Country 15-5)
- Australian Rugby Shield Winners (2003, 2005)
References
- "NRCII tournament comes to Adelaide". Rugby Union SA. 5 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019.