Dewar Shield

Sport	Rugby union
Founded	1909; 115 years ago (1909)
No. of teams	8; See teams
Country	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Most recent champion(s)	Harlequin (2023)
Most titles	Melbourne (20)

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.

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.^[1]

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

Victorian Rugby Union Premiership winners (from 1946 onwards):^[1]

(list may not be complete)

• East Melbourne
• South Melbourne
• St Kilda
• Hawthorn
• Kiwi
• Navy
• R.A.A.F
• Boroondara/Kiwi-Hawthorn^a
• South Melbourne
• Southern Districts^b
• Geelong
• Northcote/Northern

^a Kiwi-Hawthorn now play in the Premiership competition.

^b Southern Districts now play in the Premiership competition.

• Victorian Rugby Union
• Melbourne Rebels
• List of oldest rugby union competitions
• List of Australian club rugby union competitions

• Dewar Shield - Rugby Victoria