List of rugby union clubs in Australia explained

See also: Club Rugby (Australia). The highest level of provincial rugby union in Australia is Super Rugby. There are five Australian teams in this competition, which also features teams from New Zealand and Fiji.

Australia currently has no national club competition. The first attempt at such a competition, the Australian Rugby Championship, was launched in 2007 with eight teams, but lasted only one season before the nation's governing body, the Australian Rugby Union (now Rugby Australia), decided to discontinue the competition due to financial losses. The second and most recent attempt at forming a national domestic league, the National Rugby Championship, was launched in 2014 with nine teams and lasted six years until it was disbanded in 2020. The current top level competitions in Australia are the Shute Shield in Sydney and the Queensland Premier League in Brisbane. Numerous club and representative competitions serve the rugby playing community below these two competitions.

Super Rugby

National Competitions

National Rugby Championship

The National Rugby Championship (2014−2020) was a former annual competition held between professional teams from each state.

Former:

Sydney Stars (2014–2015)
Perth Spirit (2014–2017)
Greater Sydney Rams (2014–2017)

Australian Rugby Shield/NRC Division 2

The Australian Rugby Shield (2000-2008) and NRC Division 2 (2018-2020) were former annual competitions held between amateur representative teams from each state.

ACT & Southern NSW Vikings (only in Australian Rugby Shield)
Adelaide Black Falcons
Northern Territory Mosquitoes
Victoria Country Barbarians (formerly Melbourne Axemen)
New South Wales Country Cockatoos
Perth Gold
Queensland Country Heelers
Tasmania Jack Jumpers

New South Wales and ACT

See main article: Rugby union in New South Wales.

New South Wales Rugby Union

Shute Shield

Former:

New South Wales Country Rugby Union

Central Coast Rugby Union

Avoca Beach
Gosford
Kariong
Northlakes United
Ourimbah Razorbacks
Terrigal
The Entrance
Warnervale
Woy Woy

Central Northern Rugby Union

Barraba Rams & Gwydir River Rats
Gunnedah Red Devils
Inverell Highlanders
Moree Weebolla Bulls
Narrabri Blue Boars
Quirindi Lions
Scone Brumbies
Tamworth Pirates
Walcha Rams

Former:

Tamworth Magpies
Croppa Creek Crows

Central West Rugby Union

Bathurst Bulldogs
Bathurst City
Blayney
Canowindra Pythons
Coolah
Coonabarabran Kookaburras
Cowra Eagles
CSU - Bathurst
Cudal Cobras
Dubbo Kangaroos
Dubbo Rhinos
Forbes Platypi
Geurie Goats Rugby Club
Molong Magpies
Mudgee Wombats
Narromine Gorillas
Orange City
Orange Emus
Orange Waratahs
Parkes Boars
Trangie Tigers
USO - Orange
Wellington Redbacks
Yeoval

Former:

Blackheath Wildfires
Cudal
Lithgow Devils
Oberon
Rydal Razorbacks

Far North Coast Rugby Union

Ballina
Bangalow
Byron Bay
Casino
Casuarina
Evans River
Iluka
Kyogle
Lennox Head
Lismore
Mullumbimby
Murwillumbah
Richmond Range
Southern Cross University
Wollongbar/Alstonville
Woolgoolga Whitepointers
Yamba

South Coast Monaro Rugby Union

This union is officially affiliated with the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union instead of the NSW union.

Batemans Bay
Braidwood
Broulee
Sharks
Ulladulla
Vincentia

Illawarra Rugby Union

Albion Park
Avondale
Bowral
Bundanoon
Camden Rams
Lions Rugby
Kiama
Shamrocks
Shoalhaven
Tech Waratahs
University
Vikings
Wollondilly

Mid North Coast Rugby Union

Northern Division:

Bishop-Druit College Coffs Harbour Barracudas
Bowraville Goannas
Coffs Harbour Snappers
Grafton Redmen
Hastings Valley Vikings
Kempsey Cannonballs
Port Macquarie Pirates
Southern Cross University Marlins

Southern Division:

Forster-Tuncurry Dolphins
Gloucester Cockatoos
Manning River Ratz
Old Bar Clams
Wallamba Bulls
Wauchope Thunder

Former:

Urunga-Bellinger valley rugby club (Northern)
Nambucca River Breakers R.U.F.C (Northern)

New England Rugby Union

Glen Innes
Robb Rugby Club
St Albert's College
The Armidale Rugby Club (Blues)
Guyra Ghosts
Barbarians R.U.F.C.
Wright College Redmen
Tamworth

Former:

Armidale City
Armidale Old Boys
City United
Earle Page College
Guy Fawkes Ebor
Gwydir River Rats
Hillgrove
Page-Wright Barbarians
Teachers College
Tenterfield Bumblebees
University College
United Colleges
Uralla Miners
Walcha Rams

City-United Historical note: During the 1994 pre-season, it became clear that neither United nor Armidale City would have enough players to field four grades or be competitive. Given that quite a few of City's squad were former United players, NERU Secretary and former United President Dick Croft encouraged the two clubs to join forces, and City United was born. The new club competed strongly for the next eight years before merging with Armidale Old Boys for the 2002 season. This resulted in the new Armidale Blues Rugby Club, which combines the history and tradition of City, the professionalism and competitiveness of Old Boys, and the spirit and student depth of United.

Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union

Singleton
Nelson Bay
Waratahs
Wanderers
Merewether Carlton Rugby Club
Hamilton Hawks
University
Maitland
Lake Macquarie
Southern Beaches
Muswellbrook
Pokolbin
Southern Lakes
Griffins

Southern Inland Rugby Union

This union is also affiliated with the ACT union instead of a NSW body.

Western Plains Rugby Union

Bourke Rams
Brewarrina Brumbies
Cobar Camels
Coonamble Rams
Gulargambone Galahs
Bogan Bulls (Nyngan)
Walgett Rams
Warren Pumas

New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union

First Division

Second Division

Barker Old Boys
Blue Mountains
- - Briars Forest Hills
- Hunters Hill Newport
University of New South Wales Rugby union Club
Waverley

Third Division

- - - Beecroft Brothers Epping Hawkesbury Valley
Kings Old Boys
Oatley
Old Ignatians
Redfield Old Boys
St Ives
UWS Hawkesbury

Fourth Division

Blacktown
Canterbury
Colleagues Convicts
Macquarie Uni
Rouse Hill
Sydney Harlequins
Sydney Irish

Fifth Division

Georges River Rugby Club (the Dropbears)

Sixth Division

North-West
Chatswood
Collaroy
Dee Why
ICMS
Lane Cove
Manly Savers
Merrylands (TBC)
Roseville
Terrey Hills
Wakehurst

South-East

Alexandria
Engadine
Burraneer
Clovelly
Fairvale/Lansvale
Maccabi
Menai
Wollondilly

Australian Capital Territory (including areas of southern New South Wales)

See main article: Rugby union in the Australian Capital Territory.

ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union

ACTRU Premier Division

The following teams compete in first and second division competitions

Boorowa Rugby Club
Bungendore RUFC
Cooma Rugby Club
Crookwell Rugby Club
Defence Academy Rugby Club
Goulburn Rugby Union
Hall Rugby Club
Harden RUFC
Jindabyne Rugby Club
RMC Rugby Club
Taralga RUFC
Yass RUFC

South Coast Zone

Batemans Bay RUFC
Bega Valley RUFC
Bermagui-Cobargo Sharks RC
Bombala Rugby Club
Braidwood RUFC
Broulee Dolphins RUFC
Milton Rugby Club
Narooma & Districts Whales RC

Southern Inland Zone

Albury-Wodonga RUFC
Cootamundra RUFC
Denilquin Drovers
Grenfell Rugby Club
Griffith RUFC
Hay Cutters
Leeton Phantoms RUFC
Rivcoll Red RUFC
Temora RUFC
Tumut RUFC
Wagga Agricultural College RUFC
Wagga City RUFC
Wagga Wagga Crows Junior Rugby Union
Wagga Waratahs RUFC
West Wyalong Junior Rugby Union
Young RUFC

Northern Territory

See main article: Rugby union in the Northern Territory.

Northern Territory Rugby Union

Darwin Club Rugby

'A' & 'B' grade competition:

Casuarina Cougars
Darwin Dragons
Palmerston Crocs
South Darwin Rabbitohs
Swampdogs
University Pirates

Central Australian Rugby Union

Alice Springs Dingo Cubs
Devils Rugby Union Football Club
Alice Springs Eagles
Kiwi Warriors RUFC

Katherine Rugby Union

Barbarians Rugby Union Football Club
Brahmans Rugby Union Football Club
Pirates Rugby Union Football Club
Tindal Lions Rugby Union Football Club

Other teams

East Arnhem Rugby

East Arnhem Rugby runs a junior rugby competition between April and August. While not part of a regular competition, East Arnhem Rugby provides competition for Senior Players by entering in 7's Tournaments.^[1]