Australian Rugby Union

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The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board (IRB) the sport's governing body. It is responsible for the Australia national rugby union team.

[edit] History

See also: History of rugby union

In 1874 the Southern Rugby Union was established, administered from Twickenham in England. The administration was handed over to New South Wales in 1881 and in 1892 the Southern Rugby Union of New South Wales and the Northern Rugby Union of Queensland (formed in 1883) became New South Wales and Queensland Rugby Unions respectively.

New South Wales, as the senior union, was responsible for the administration of all tours and for representing Australia on the International Rugby Board. However in 1947 the various State Unions agreed that the future of rugby union in Australia would be better served by forming one administrative body. In 1948, the International Board invited Australia specifically (rather than a New South Wales representative), to take a seat on the Board.

The inaugural meeting of the Australian Rugby Football Union was held on November 25th, 1949 with 11 delegates from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. The Australian Capital Territory became a member in 1972 and the Northern Territory an associate member in 1978.

In 1985 the Australian Rugby Football Union was incorporated as a company and in 1997, it became simply The Australian Rugby Union Ltd.

[edit] See also

• ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union
• Queensland Rugby Union
• New South Wales Rugby Union
• Victorian Rugby Union
• RugbyWA
• Australia national rugby union team

[edit] External links

• Australian Rugby Union
• ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union
• New South Wales Rugby Union
• Queensland Rugby Union
• South Australian Rugby Union
• Victorian Rugby Union
• RugbyWA