The Queensland Rugby Union, or QRU, is the governing body for the sport of Rugby union in Queensland in Australia. It is a member and founding union of Rugby Australia.
 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1883 |
| Headquarters | Ballymore Stadium Brisbane, Queensland |
| Patron | Paul de Jersey |
| Chairman | Brett Clark |
| President | Roger Gould |
| Website | https://qld.rugby |
History
editThe QRU was founded in Brisbane in 1883 as the Northern Rugby Union,[1] after breaking away from the Queensland Football Association before being formally constituted in 1893 when the name was changed to the Queensland Rugby Football Union.[2]
The first 1883 season began with two clubs: Fireflies and Wanderers. Early intercolonials were played at Eagle Farm Racecourse. The competition boomed after the collapse of the QFA in 1890 with the majority of the remaining Australian rules players making the switch to rugby.
A combination of the introduction of rugby league and the impact of World War I saw the organisation disbanded in 1919, however it reformed after a decade in 1928.
Early clubs (1883-1893)
edit| Club | Founded | Years active in union | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fireflies | 1884 | 1884-? | [3] |
| Wanderers | 1884 | 1884-? | [3] |
| Wasps | 1884 | 1884-? | |
| Gracemere | 1886 | 1890-? | Central Queensland association |
| Wallaroo | 1880 | 1885- | Formed under Australian rules[4] |
| Beenleigh | 1887 | ||
| Oxley | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Past Grammar | 1887 | ?1891- | |
| Aubigny | 1889 | [5] | |
| Warwick | 1889 | 1889 | Warwick Rugby Football Union in 1890[6] |
| Caxton | 1889 | 1889 | Warwick Rugby Football Union in 1890 |
| South-Eastern | 1889 | 1889 | Warwick Rugby Football Union in 1890 |
| Toowoomba Grammar School | 1889 | 1889 | Formed under Australian rules[7] |
| Arformas | ?1890 | 1890-? | |
| Boomerangs | ?1890 | 1890-? | |
| Moonlight | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Young Athenian | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Pittsworth | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Greenmount | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Paddington | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Bunya | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Oriental | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Rockhampton | 1890 | 1890-? | Central Queensland association |
| Wallaroo | 1890 | 1890-? | Central Queensland association |
| Mount Morgan | 1890 | 1890-? | Central Queensland association |
| Zingari | 1890 | 1890-? | Central Queensland association |
| Charters Towers | 1890 | 1892-? | |
| Oxford | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Emu | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Toowong Ranger | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Townsville | 1890 | 1890-? | |
| Ipswich | 1892 | 1893-? | |
| Beserkers | 1892 | 1892-? | Capricornia District |
| Wanderers | 1892 | 1892-? | Capricornia District |
| Waratahs | 1892 | 1892-? | Capricornia District |
| Gordon | 1893 | 1893-? | |
| Longreach | 1893 | 1893-? | |
| Mountaineer | 1893 | 1893-? |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Football". The Week. Brisbane. 10 November 1883. p.6, col. 3. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "Queensland News". Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton. 19 April 1893. p.5, col. 6. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ a b "RUGBY UNION CLUBS". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 8, 213. Queensland, Australia. 7 May 1884. p. 5. Retrieved 6 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "THE WALLAROO FOOTBALL CLUB". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXIX, no. 8, 507. Queensland, Australia. 16 April 1885. p. 5. Retrieved 6 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "WASPS V. TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR SCHOOL". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. XXXI, no. 7, 279. Queensland, Australia. 27 May 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 6 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Warwick Argus". Warwick Argus. Vol. XXV, no. 1887. Queensland, Australia. 31 May 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 15 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser 21 May 1881 Page 2