Wikipedia

Queensland Premier Rugby

See also: Club Rugby (Australia)

Queensland Premier Rugby is a semi professional club rugby union competition in Queensland, Australia. Nine clubs play in the competition, eight clubs are from Brisbane, and one club is from Gold Coast.
The premiership has been contested in its present form since 1929.[1]

Queensland Premier Rugby
SportRugby union
Founded1887; 137 years ago (1887)
No. of teams9
CountryAustralia
Most recent
champion(s)		Brothers (2024)
Most titlesUniversity of Queensland (33 titles)
TV partner(s)Stan Sport
Nine Network

History

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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]

Other trophies

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Thomas Welsby Memorial Cup: The top two first 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 First Grade Minor Premiers, since 1978. 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 Randall Doughty,[3] a former marine engineer with the Queensland Harbours and Rivers Department and lightweight champion boxer,[4] the Doughty Shield is awarded annually to the champion Brisbane club, based on competition points won across all participating grades.

Further information: Doughty Shield

Queensland Premier Rugby Teams

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Current Teams

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Queensland Premier Rugby Club Colours Moniker City/Region/Town Suburb/s Est. Premiership/s Most recent
Brothers   Filth Brisbane Albion 1905 30[a] 2024; 0 years ago (2024)
University of Queensland   Students Brisbane St Lucia 1911 33[b] 2021; 3 years ago (2021)
GPS Brisbane   Gallopers Brisbane Ashgrove 1931 6 2018; 6 years ago (2018)
South Brisbane   Magpies Brisbane Annerley 1948 10 2015; 9 years ago (2015)
East Brisbane   Tigers Brisbane Norman Park 1947 5 2020; 4 years ago (2020)
West Brisbane   Bulldogs Brisbane Toowong 1951 4 2022; 2 years ago (2022)
Sunnybank   Dragons Brisbane MacGregor 1969 3 2011; 13 years ago (2011)
North Brisbane   Eagles Brisbane Wooloowin 1991 2[c] 1976; 48 years ago (1976)
Bond University*   Bullsharks Gold Coast Robina 2014 1[d] 2004; 20 years ago (2004)

Former Teams

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Queensland Premier Rugby Club Colours Moniker City/Region/Town Suburb/s Est. Premiership/s Most recent
Gold Coast*   Breakers Gold Coast Robina 1996 1[e] 2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Sunshine Coast   Stingrays Sunshine Coast K. Waters 2005
Canberra   Vikings Canberra Canberra 1994 3 2003; 21 years ago (2003)

Grand Final results, Hospital Cup winners (since 1946)

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2024   Brothers Brisbane 29-27   West Brisbane
2023   Brothers Brisbane 26–24   West Brisbane
2022   West Brisbane 44–27   University of Queensland
2021   University of Queensland 29–12   GPS Brisbane
2020   East Brisbane 33–18   University of Queensland
2019   University of Queensland 31–26   Brothers Brisbane
2018   GPS Brisbane 23–16   University of Queensland
2017   University of Queensland 23–14   GPS Brisbane
2016   Brothers Brisbane 31–28   University of Queensland
2015   South Brisbane 39–12   East Brisbane
2014   University of Queensland 20–18   Sunnybank
2013   East Brisbane 27–22   GPS Brisbane
2012   University of Queensland 46–20   Sunnybank
2011   Sunnybank 35–24   Brothers Brisbane
2010   University of Queensland 19–11   Sunshine Coast
2009   Brothers Brisbane 26–19   South Brisbane
2008   East Brisbane 22–21   Brothers Brisbane
2007   Sunnybank 85–19   Gold Coast
2006   West Brisbane 23–22   Brothers Brisbane
2005   Sunnybank 41–17   Gold Coast
2004   Gold Coast 24–18   University of Queensland
2003   Canberra 29–16   Gold Coast
2002   Canberra 45–3   East Brisbane
2001   Canberra 32–10   Gold Coast
2000   South Brisbane 34–30   West Brisbane
1999   East Brisbane 16–15   West Brisbane
1998   South Brisbane 34–18   West Brisbane
1997   East Brisbane 18–16   South Brisbane
1996   GPS Brisbane 12–6   South Brisbane
1995   South Brisbane 27–11   East Brisbane
1994   South Brisbane 19–8   Sunnybank
1993   South Brisbane 27–8   Sunnybank
1992   South Brisbane 44–10   University of Queensland
1991   South Brisbane 22–15   West Brisbane
1990   University of Queensland 19–10   Brothers Brisbane
1989   University of Queensland 34–9   South Brisbane
1988   University of Queensland 18–10   South Brisbane
1987   Brothers Brisbane 20–19   South Brisbane
1986   South Brisbane 31–13   Brothers Brisbane
1985   West Brisbane 10–7   University of Queensland
1984   Brothers Brisbane 18–3   East Brisbane
1983   Brothers Brisbane 30–15   University of Queensland
1982   Brothers Brisbane 25–16   University of Queensland
1981   Brothers Brisbane 36–13   Teachers-North Brisbane
1980   Brothers Brisbane 19–0   South Brisbane
1979   University of Queensland 16–13   Brothers Brisbane
1978   Brothers Brisbane 19–15   University of Queensland
1977   West Brisbane 15–10   Brothers Brisbane
1976   Teachers-North Brisbane 16–4   GPS Brisbane
1975   Brothers Brisbane 23–6   GPS Brisbane
1974   Brothers Brisbane 27–19   GPS Brisbane
1973   Brothers Brisbane 20–10   GPS Brisbane
1972   GPS Brisbane 23–18   University of Queensland
1971   Brothers Brisbane 17–3   East Brisbane
1970   University of Queensland 24–6   GPS Brisbane
1969   University of Queensland 22–14   Brothers Brisbane
1968   Brothers Brisbane 17–6   University of Queensland
1967   University of Queensland 17–15   GPS Brisbane
1966   Brothers Brisbane 36–9   University of Queensland
1965   University of Queensland 17–15   GPS Brisbane
1964   University of Queensland 29–9   Teachers-North Brisbane
1963   Teachers-North Brisbane 28–6   University of Queensland
1962   University of Queensland 18–12   South Brisbane
1961   GPS Brisbane 19–13   University of Queensland
1960   University of Queensland 11–6   Brothers Brisbane
1959   Brothers Brisbane 13–11   University of Queensland
1958   South Brisbane 9–5   University of Queensland
1957   University of Queensland 23–18   South Brisbane
1956   University of Queensland 19–6   GPS Brisbane
1955   University of Queensland 18–16   South Brisbane
1954   University of Queensland 19–3   GPS Brisbane
1953   Brothers Brisbane 11–9   University of Queensland
1952   University of Queensland 11–3   Brothers Brisbane
1951   Brothers Brisbane 17–6   GPS Brisbane
1950   Brothers Brisbane 21–10   University of Queensland
1949   Brothers Brisbane 13–8   University of Queensland
1948   University of Queensland 21–18   GPS Brisbane
1947   University of Queensland 8–6   Brothers Brisbane
1946   Brothers Brisbane 11–6   GPS Brisbane

Total Premierships (since 1946)

Team Premiers (Hospitals Challenge Cup) Runners-up (Vince Nicholls Memorial Shield)
University of Queensland 24 20
Brothers 23 12
Souths 10 10
Easts 5 5
GPS 4 15
Wests 4 6
Sunnybank 3 4
Norths 0 0
Bond University 0 0
Canberra 3 0
Gold Coast 1 4
Teachers-Norths 1 1
Teachers 1 1
Sunshine Coast Stingrays 0 1

Former clubs (since 1929)

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 27 QRU, 1 BRL.
  2. ^ 31 QRU, 2 BRL.
  3. ^ Both Premierships were as Teachers / Teachers–Norths.
  4. ^ As Gold Coast Breakers.
  5. ^ As Gold Coast Breakers.

References

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  1. ^ Queensland qru | Hospital Cup Winners Archived August 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "SCRU to Consolidate its Position | Sunshine Coast Rugby Union". www.scru.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Eagle Junction's good season". The Courier-Mail. 13 February 1937. Retrieved 17 November 2014 – via Trove.
  4. ^ "New manager and referee Mr. Doughty and Major Craig". The Referee. 5 July 1922. Retrieved 17 November 2014 – via Trove.
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