Royal Agricultural Society Shield

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Royal Agricultural Society Shield, or,(RAS Shield) was the New South Wales Rugby League(NSWRL)’s first premiership trophy. It was presented to each years premiership winning rugby league team, the first to win it 3 years in succession would take permanent ownership of the shield. The Eastern Suburbs club achieved this feat winning premierships in 1911, 1912 and 1913.

The hand crafter silver and oak designed shield was donated to the NSWRL by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales in its first year of competition.

Leading journalist, Claude Corbett wrote in Sydney, Sun, newspaper on, May 1, 1914, "The Royal Agricultural Society Shield, which was presented at the inception of the League's first grade competition has been won outright by Eastern Suburbs, who upset all calculations by winning the premiership three years in succession. The club has presented the shield to their captain, Dally Messenger, 'as a token of appreciation of his captaincy."

[edit] References

• RL1908.com & various other internet sources