Tasmanian Rugby Union
| TRU | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
| Founded | 1933 |
| ARU affiliation |
1949 (founding member) |
| Website |
www |
The Tasmanian Rugby Union, or TRU, is the governing body for the sport of rugby union within the state of Tasmania in Australia. It is a member and founding union of the Australian Rugby Union.
Currently, the Tasmanian Rugby Union holds a variety of competitions for males and females in several age groups and divisions.
The headquarters for the Tasmanian Rugby Union are at Rugby Park, Cornelian Bay, Tasmania. The TRU was established in 1933.
2015 Senior Men's competition
There are several teams competing in the club rugby divisions These are:
- Australian Maritime College Rugby Union Club Est. 2012 "The Vikings"
- Burnie Rugby Union Club Est. 1961, Reformed 1997 "The Emus"
- Devonport Rugby Club Est. 1964 "The Bulls"
- Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club Inc. Est.1964 "The Roosters"
- Glenorchy Rugby Union Football Club Est.1935 "The Black Stags"
- Hobart Harlequins Rugby Union Club Est.1933 "The Harlequins"
- Hobart Lions Rugby Club Est.1974 (approx.) "The Lions"
- Launceston Rugby Union Football Club Est.1999 "The Lonnie Tigers"
- Taroona Rugby Club Est.1947 "The Blues" and "The Penguins"
- University of Tasmania Rugby Union Club Est.1933 "The Red Men"
Defunct clubs
- Associates
- West Coast
- Georgetown
- Wellington
- Port Dalrymple
- Glen Dhu
- Riverview
- Williamsford
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Holders |
 Taroona Rugby Club Est. 1947 "The Penguins" (2016: 11th title) |
| Most titles |
|
2015 Grand Final
The 2015 Tasmanian Rugby Union Senior Men's Grand Final was played out between the seasons minor premiers the "Taroona Rugby Club" and the "Devonport Rugby Club" at Rugby Park on 19 September 2015. The Devonport Bulls who had advanced to the final after a convincing home final win against the "Hobart Harlequins Rugby Union Club" were looking to defend their premiership title having won it against the "Glenorchy Rugby Union Football Club" the year before. The game was played out in sunny conditions in front of a large crowd. The game ended with the Penguins taking out their 10th Premiership with the final score at 27-21.
Current Grounds
- Don Recreation Ground- Home of the Devonport Rugby Club (Est. 1964 "The Bulls")
- Eady Street Oval- Home of the Glenorchy Rugby Union Football Club (Est.1935 "The Black Stags")
- North Warrane Oval- Home of the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club Inc. (Est.1964 "The Roosters")
- Royal Park, Launceston- Home of the Australian Maritime College Rugby Union Club (Est. 2012 "The Vikings") and Launceston Rugby Union Football Club (Est.1999 "The Lonnie Tigers")
- Rugby Park- Home of the Hobart Harlequins Rugby Union Club (Est.1933 "The Harlequins"), Taroona Rugby Club (Est.1947 "The Blues" and "The Penguins") and Hobart Lions Rugby Club (Est.1974 (approx.) "The Lions")
- University of Tasmania Rugby Ground- Home of the University of Tasmania Rugby Union Club (Est.1933 "The Red Men")
- Upper Burnie Sports Centre- Current Home of the Burnie Rugby Union Club (Reformed 1997 "The Emus")
Premierships
| Season | Grand Final |
|---|---|
| Premiers | |
| 2016 | Taroona Rugby Club |
| 2015 | Taroona Rugby Club |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 |  Hobart Harlequins Rugby Union Club |
| 2012 | Taroona Rugby Club |
| 2011 | |
| 2010 | |
| 2009 | |
| 2008 | |
| 2007 | Taroona Rugby Club |
| 2006 |  Launceston Rugby Union Football Club |
| 1995 | |
| 1994 | |
| 1993 | |
| 1992 | |
| 1991 | |
| 1988 | Hobart Harlequins Rugby Union Club |
| 1987 | Taroona Rugby Club |
| 1986 | Taroona Rugby Club |
| 1985 | |
| 1983 | Taroona Rugby Club |
| 1982 | Taroona Rugby Club |
| 1981 |  Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club Inc. |
| 1979 | Taroona Rugby Club |
| 1976 | |
| 1975 | |
| 1974 | Hobart Harlequins Rugby Union Club |
| 1973 | |
| 1968 | Taroona Rugby Club |
Divisions
Rugby Union in Tasmania consists of the following divisions : Men's Seniors, Men's Reserves, Women's, Junior Under 18, Junior Under 16, Juniors Under 14. For more on Juniors Under 16s and 14 see Tasmanian Rugby Union Juniors
Women's Rugby
The Women’s Rugby competition in Tasmania concluded in 2009 due to lack of numbers. At this time Tasmania only had four teams in the women’s division, Devonport Rugby Club, Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club Inc., Taroona Rugby Club and Glenorchy Rugby Union Football Club.
The ladies who played where very passionate about the game of rugby
In 2015 Tasmania produced the first representative girls rugby sevens team. The under 17 age group team represented Tasmania in the graysonline.com Australian Sevens Development Tournament in Wagga Wagga. They will faced teams from Victoria, NSW, Queensland, ACT and Western Australia over two days. Although the team could not manage a win against more experienced opposition, they did manage a try in their first game.
This interest in the condensed version of the game has led to further development of a ladies competition in 2016 and 2017.
Representative teams
The senior men's state representative side for the Tasmanian Rugby Union is the Tasmanian Jack Jumpers, named for the jack jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosula), a species of venomous bull ant commonly found in Tasmania.
Junior representative sides exist for each of the Junior divisions.
Notable players
- Adam Coleman, Wallaby 895, and currently playing for the Western Force
- Jack Ford, Wallaby 224,11 caps, born in Sheffield, Tasmania
- Eric E. Ford, Wallaby 240, 7 caps, born in Launceston, Tasmania
- Nili Fielea, Perth Spirit
- Justin Collins, Flanker - Chiefs 1998-1999 (10 caps), Blues 1999-2009 (92 caps)
- Johanthon Cook "the people's captain"