Queensland Premier Rugby

Queensland Premier Rugby
Sport	Rugby union
Founded	1887;137 years ago
No. of teams	9
Country	Australia
Most recent; champion(s)	Brothers (2023)
Most titles	University of Queensland (33 titles)
TV partner(s)	Stan Sport; Nine Network

Last updated March 22, 2024

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]

History

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

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.

Queensland Premier Rugby Teams

Current Teams

Queensland Premier Rugby Club	Moniker	City/Region/Town	Suburb/s	Est.	Premiership/s	Most recent
Brothers	Filth	Brisbane	Albion	1905	29^{[lower-alpha 1]}	2023;1 year ago (2023)
University of Queensland	Students	Brisbane	St Lucia	1911	33^{[lower-alpha 2]}	2021;3 years ago (2021)
GPS	Gallopers	Brisbane	Ashgrove	1931	6	2018;6 years ago (2018)
South Brisbane/Southern Suburbs	Magpies	Brisbane	Annerley	1948	10	2015;9 years ago (2015)
Easts Brisbane/Eastern Suburbs	Tigers	Brisbane	Norman Park	1947	5	2020;4 years ago (2020)
Wests Brisbane/Western Suburbs	Bulldogs	Brisbane	Toowong	1951	4	2022;2 years ago (2022)
Sunnybank	Dragons	Brisbane	MacGregor	1969	3	2011;13 years ago (2011)
North Brisbane/Northern Suburbs	Eagles	Brisbane	Wooloowin	1991	2^{[lower-alpha 3]}	1976;48 years ago (1976)
Bond University*	Bullsharks	Gold Coast	Robina	2014	1^{[lower-alpha 4]}	2004;20 years ago (2004)

Former Teams

Queensland Premier Rugby Club	Moniker	City/Region/Town	Suburb/s	Est.	Premiership/s	Most recent
Gold Coast*	Breakers	Gold Coast	Robina	1996	1^{[lower-alpha 5]}	2004;20 years ago (2004)
Sunshine Coast	Stingrays	Sunshine Coast	K. Waters	2005
Canberra	Vikings	Canberra	Canberra	1994	3	2003;21 years ago (2003)

Gold Coast Breakers were reformed as Bond University Bullsharks

Grand Final results, Hospital Cup winners (since 1946)

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

Total Premierships (since 1946)

Team	Premiers (Hospitals Challenge Cup)	Runners-up (Vince Nicholls Memorial Shield)
University of Queensland	24	20
Brothers	22	12
Souths	10	10
Easts	5	5
GPS	4	15
Wests	4	5
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)

B.G.S. Old Boys, Y.M.C.A., Valleys, Wynnum, Past Commercials/Technical College Old Boys
West End, South Brisbane, Combined High School Old Boys, Starlights (Ipswich)
Valley Playground Old Boys, Eagle Junction, New Farm, Bretts-Windsor
Mayne, Windsor, R.A.A.F.
Maristonians, Police, Northern Districts
United Services, R.A.A.F. Amberley, Army
Teachers, Gold Coast Eagles, Q.I.T./Colleges, Ipswich Rangers
Redcliffe, Teachers-Norths, Kenmore
Canberra Vikings, Sunshine Coast Stingrays, Gold Coast Breakers

Notes

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

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References

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

External links

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[5] 27 QRU, 1 BRL.

[6] 31 QRU, 2 BRL.

[7] Both Premierships were as Teachers / Teachers–Norths.

[8] As Gold Coast Breakers.

[9] As Gold Coast Breakers.

[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.

[cm-1937-3] "Eagle Junction's good season". The Courier-Mail . 13 February 1937. Retrieved 17 November 2014– via Trove.

[referee-1922-4] "New manager and referee Mr. Doughty and Major Craig". The Referee . 5 July 1922. Retrieved 17 November 2014– via Trove.

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v t e Queensland Rugby Union
Member of the Australian Rugby Union
Super Rugby team	Queensland Reds
Super W teams	Queensland Reds Women
NRC teams	Brisbane City Queensland Country
Premier Rugby	Bond University Brothers Easts GPS Norths Souths Sunnybank University of Queensland Wests
Venues	Ballymore Stadium Lang Park
Regional bodies	Queensland Suburban Rugby Union Queensland Country Rugby Union