Dewar Shield
Sport | Rugby union football |
---|---|
Founded | 1909 |
No. of teams | 9 |
Country | Australia |
Most recent champion(s) | Harlequin (2015) |
Official website | www.melbournerebels.com.au |
The Dewar Shield is a Rugby Union competition in Melbourne, Victoria. It is the premier grade for Rugby in Victoria. A total of nine teams from the Victorian Rugby Union compete for the trophy.
History
The Victorian Rugby Union senior competition was established in 1909 with five teams, namely East Melbourne, Melbourne, South Melbourne, St Kilda and University. The Melbourne Rugby Club of that time won the first year of the five-team competition for the new trophy the Dewar Shield (donated by the Scotch Whisky Distillery John Dewar and Sons). One hundred years later in 2009 the current Melbourne Rugby Club is the reigning premiers, defeating Box Hill in the Grand Final for the same Dewar Shield.
The Premier competition is contested by nine clubs with each club fielding three teams (Premier 1, Premier 2, and Premier 3). Other senior competitions offered are Metro 2nd Division with an A, B & C Grade, Colts (U20), Country, Women and Masters (over 35s).
During this time, a number of clubs have dominated the 1st Grade results. Melbourne Rugby Club has the most number of Premierships with 17. Moorabbin holds the record for consecutive Premierships, winning six in a row from 1981-1986. Other prominent clubs during this 100-year period include Melbourne University, Power House and Navy.[1]
Footscray and Endeavour Hills were promoted to the Premier division for the 2011 season.
Media coverage
Local TV Channel 31 broadcasts one game a week on Wednesday evenings. The Rebel Army periodically have online text-based commentary of matches.
Premier Division clubs
Club | Location | Home ground | Nickname | Founded | First season |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Box Hill | Box Hill | RHL Sparks Reserve | Broncos | 1958 | 1966 |
Endeavour Hills | Endeavour Hills | Frog Hollow Reserve | Eagles | 1979 | 2007 |
Footscray | Footscray | Henry Turner Memorial Reserve | Bulldogs | 1928 | |
Harlequin | Ashwood | Ashwood Reserve | Quins | 1928 | 1930 |
Melbourne | Armadale | Romanis Reserve, Orrong Park | Unicorns | 1909 | 1929 |
Melbourne University | Parkville | Royal Park | Students | 1909 | 1910 |
Moorabbin | Moorabbin | Keys Rd Reserve | Rams | 1965 | |
Power House | Albert Park | Albert Park | The Society | 1933 | 1936 |
Southern Districts | Seaford | Riviera Park | Pirates | 1972 |
Dewar Shield winners
Victorian Rugby Union Premiership winners (from 1946 onwards):[1]
- 2015 Harlequin
- 2014 Harlequin
- 2013 Harlequin
- 2012 Moorabbin
- 2011 Melbourne
- 2010 Melbourne
- 2009 Melbourne
- 2008 Power House
- 2007 Power House
- 2006 Power House
- 2005 Moorabbin
- 2004 Harlequin
- 2003 Melbourne
- 2002 Moorabbin
- 2001 Box Hill
- 2000 Box Hill
- 1999 Box Hill
- 1998 Melbourne
- 1997 Power House
- 1996 Kiwi-Hawthorn
- 1995 Moorabbin
- 1994 Moorabbin
- 1993 Kiwi-Hawthorn
- 1992 Harlequin
- 1991 Moorabbin
- 1990 Moorabbin
- 1989 Harlequin
- 1988 Moorabbin
- 1987 Power House
- 1986 Moorabbin
- 1985 Moorabbin
- 1984 Moorabbin
- 1983 Moorabbin
- 1982 Moorabbin
- 1981 Moorabbin
- 1980 Kiwis
- 1979 Kiwis
- 1978 Moorabbin
- 1977 Kiwis
- 1976 Kiwis
- 1975 Harlequin
- 1974 Power House
- 1973 Power House
- 1972 Kiwis
- 1971 Kiwis
- 1970 Kiwis
- 1969 Melbourne
- 1968 Power House
- 1967 Melbourne University
- 1966 Melbourne
- 1965 Melbourne
- 1964 Melbourne University
- 1963 Melbourne University
- 1962 Harlequin
- 1961 Melbourne University
- 1960 Melbourne University
- 1959 Melbourne University
- 1958 Power House
- 1957 Navy
- 1956 Power House
- 1955 Harlequin
- 1954 Melbourne
- 1953 Navy
- 1952 Navy
- 1951 Navy
- 1950 Melbourne
- 1949 Melbourne
- 1948 Melbourne
- 1947 Navy
- 1946 Navy
Former Premier Division clubs
(list may not be complete)
- East Melbourne, St Kilda, South Melbourne
- Hawthorne, Kiwi, Navy, R.A.A.F
- Boroondara/Kiwi-Hawthorna
a Kiwi-Hawthorn now play in the Second Division A competition.
See also
References
- 1 2 "Dewar Shield". Melbourne Rebels. 2014. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.