Dewar Shield

The Dewar Shield is a rugby union competition in Melbourne. It is the premier amateur rugby competition in Victoria. A total of eight teams from the Victorian Rugby Union compete for the trophy. Clubs must field teams in 3 grades, Dewar Shield Reserves (Penwill Cup) and Dewar Shield 3rd Grade (Mawhinney Cup), to be eligible to compete.

A "Game of the week" is streamed on the Rugby Victoria Facebook Page.

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 once again won the premiership defeating Box Hill in the Grand Final for the same Dewar Shield. The Current (2023) Champions are Harlequin

The Premier competition is contested by eight clubs with each club fielding three teams (1st Grade, Reserve Grade, and 3rd Grade). 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 20. Moorabbin holds the record for consecutive Premierships, winning six in a row from 1981 to 1986. Other prominent clubs during this 100-year period include Melbourne University, Power House and Navy.

Footscray and Endeavour Hills were promoted to the Premier division for the 2011 season.

Winners
Victorian Rugby Union Premiership winners (from 1946 onwards): • 1946 Navy

• 1947 Navy

• 1948 Melbourne

• 1949 Melbourne

• 1950 Melbourne

• 1951 Navy

• 1952 Navy

• 1953 Navy

• 1954 Melbourne

• 1955 Harlequin

• 1956 Power House

• 1957 Navy

• 1958 Power House

• 1959 Melbourne University

• 1960 Melbourne University

• 1961 Melbourne University

• 1962 Harlequin

• 1963 Melbourne University

• 1964 Melbourne University

• 1965 Melbourne

• 1966 Melbourne

• 1967 Melbourne University

• 1968 Power House

• 1969 Melbourne

• 1970 Kiwis

• 1971 Kiwis

• 1972 Kiwis

• 1973 Power House

• 1974 Power House

• 1975 Harlequin

• 1976 Kiwis

• 1977 Kiwis

• 1978 Moorabbin

• 1979 Kiwis

• 1980 Kiwis

• 1981 Moorabbin

• 1982 Moorabbin

• 1983 Moorabbin

• 1984 Moorabbin

• 1985 Moorabbin

• 1986 Moorabbin

• 1987 Power House

• 1988 Moorabbin

• 1989 Harlequin

• 1990 Moorabbin

• 1991 Moorabbin

• 1992 Harlequin

• 1993 Kiwi-Hawthorn

• 1994 Moorabbin

• 1995 Moorabbin

• 1996 Kiwi-Hawthorn

• 1997 Power House

• 1998 Melbourne

• 1999 Box Hill

• 2000 Box Hill

• 2001 Box Hill

• 2002 Moorabbin

• 2003 Melbourne

• 2004 Harlequin

• 2005 Moorabbin

• 2006 Power House

• 2007 Power House

• 2008 Power House

• 2009 Melbourne

• 2010 Melbourne

• 2011 Melbourne

• 2012 Moorabbin

• 2013 Harlequin

• 2014 Harlequin

• 2015 Harlequin

• 2016 Melbourne

• 2017 Harlequin

• 2018 Melbourne

• 2019 Melbourne

• 2020 COVID-19 - No winner

• 2021 COVID-19 - No winner

• 2022 Harlequin

• 2023 Harlequin

Former clubs
(list may not be complete)
 * East Melbourne
 * South Melbourne
 * St Kilda
 * Hawthorn
 * Kiwi
 * Navy
 * R.A.A.F
 * Boroondara/Kiwi-Hawthorna
 * South Melbourne
 * Southern Districtsb
 * Geelong
 * Northcote/Northern

a Kiwi-Hawthorn now play in the Premiership competition.

b Southern Districts now play in the Premiership competition.

Club websites

 * Box Hill RUFC
 * Endeavour Hills RUFC
 * Footscray RUC
 * Harlequin RUC
 * Melbourne RUFC


 * Melbourne University RFC
 * Moorabbin RUFC
 * Power House RUFC