History

Brief history of rugby union in the Northern Territory

Rugby Union in Darwin started after Cyclone Tracy when there was a large number of young men involved in the clean up and reconstruction of the city. Amongst their number were many New Zealanders who missed their national sport. One Kiwi by the name of David Cooper put up a flyer outside his house asking for anyone interested in playing rugby union to contact him. From these humble beginnings the competition began.

On the 2nd of October 1976 the first match of Rugby Union was played in Darwin between South Darwin Rabbitohs and RSL Dragons at Alawa Oval . Souths went on to win the innaugural Grand Final in March 1977 against Waratahs 33-10.

The Northern Territory Rugby Union's first senior touring side left Darwin in March 1981 for an extensive tour of Queensland and New South Wales where they performed with distinction.

Rugby Park in Mararra was opened in 1984 and has served as NTRU's headquarters ever since.  

Foundation clubs:

Tracy Village which became Casuarina Cougars

Palmerston Crocs

RSL Dragons now Darwin Dragons

Waratahs

South Darwin Rabbitohs

Larrakeyah Buffaloes  

Darwin Competition Premiership Winners

2010 Casuarina 30 beat University 10 

2009 University 24 beat Casuarina 23 

2008 South Darwin 29 beat University 21 

2007 Darwin Dragons 11 beat Palmerston 0 

2006 University 16 beat Darwin Dragons 14 

2005 South Darwin 22 beat University 12 

2004 University 36 beat South Darwin 8 

2003 Darwin Dragons 28 beat South Darwin 13 

2001‐02 Darwin Dragons 8 beat University 3 

2000‐01 Darwin Dragons 11 beat South Darwin 5 

1999‐00 University 20 beat Palmerston 16 

1998‐99 Palmerston 16 beat Pint Dragons 7 

1997‐98 Litchfield 13 beat Palmerston 10 

1996‐97 Pint Dragons 21 beat Palmerston 19 

1995‐96 Pint Dragons 27 beat Palmerston 10 

1994‐95 Pint Dragons 11 beat University 6 

1993‐94 University 22 beat RSL 12 

1992‐93 University 17 beat RSL 3 

1991‐92 University 20 beat South Darwin 13 

1990‐91 Palmerston 6 beat RSL 3 

1989‐90 University 9 beat Palmerston 0 

1988‐89 University 16 beat South Darwin 0 

1987‐88 South Darwin 23 beat Palmerston 9 

1986‐87 Casuarina 15 beat Palmerston 9 

1985‐86 RSL 25 beat Casuarina 13 

1984‐85 Casuarina 11 beat South Darwin 3 

1983‐84 Casuarina 6 beat RSL 0 

1982‐83 Casuarina 7 beat South Darwin 0 

1981‐82 Casuarina 7 beat South Darwin 6 

1980‐81 Casuarina 13 beat South Darwin 3 

1979‐80 Bayside 12 beat CASUARINA 0 

1978‐79 Larrakeyah 18 beat Bayside 0 

1977‐78 South Darwin 19 beat Palmerston 10 

1976‐77 Waratahs 31 beat South Darwin 10