Australian Rugby Union
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| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1949 |
| IRB affiliation | 1949 |
| President | Paul McLean |
| Men's coach |  Robbie Deans |
| Women's coach | Steven Hamson |
| Sevens coach | Michael O'Connor |
| Official website | www.rugby.com.au |
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 consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory. It is responsible for the Australia national rugby union team.
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[edit] History
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 Rugby 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 25 November 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 2004, the ACT union changed its name to the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union after two regional unions in southern New South Wales switched affiliation to the ACT union.
In 1985 the Australian Rugby Football Union was incorporated as a company and in 1997, it became simply The Australian Rugby Union Ltd.
[edit] Teams
[edit] Men
- Wallabies – the national men's rugby union team.
- Australia A – the second-level men's national rugby union team.
- Under 20s – the replacement for the former U-21 and U-19 sides, created after the IRB scrapped its former U-21 and U-19 competitions in favour of a U-20 competition, the IRB Junior World Championship.
- Under 21s – a former age graded side that has developed some of today's current Wallabies.
- Under 19s – a former age graded side that has developed some of today's current Wallabies.
- Australia Spirit – the national men's rugby union seven-a-side team.
[edit] Women
- Wallaroos – the national women's rugby union team.
[edit] Membership
The ARU has eight member unions, and a number of affiliated unions. Member unions have voting delegates. Affiliate groups do not have voting rights.
Member Unions
- ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union – 1 delegate
- New South Wales Rugby Union – 5 delegates
- Northern Territory Rugby Union – 1 delegate
- Queensland Rugby Union – 3 delegates
- South Australia Rugby Union – 1 delegate
- Tasmanian Rugby Union – 1 delegate
- Victorian Rugby Union – 1 delegate
- RugbyWA (Western Australia) – 1 delegate
Affiliate Unions
- Australian Barbarian Rugby Club
- Australian Juniors Rugby Union
- Australian Rugby Football Schools Union
- Australian Services Rugby Union
- Australian Society of Rugby Referees
- Australian Universities Rugby Union
- Australian Womens Rugby
- Classic Wallabies
[edit] Hall of Fame
The ARUs promotes and selects a Hall of Fame honour. Each year two or more of Australia's greats from all eras of the international game are inducted into the Wallaby Hall of Fame. Inductees are drawn from all Test teams starting with the first side in 1899. Consideration is given to a players’ on-field career but induction is not based on statistical achievement alone.
To be eligible for inclusion in the Wallaby Hall of Fame, a player must have:
- Played at least one Test for Australia
- Been retired from Rugby for at least 10 years
- Made a major contribution to the game of Rugby
- Demonstrated outstanding ability, sportsmanship, commitment, character and personal contribution to their team and the game in their era.
[edit] Hall of Fame Members
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Australian Rugby Union
- Official website of the Melbourne Rebels
- ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union
- New South Wales Rugby Union
- Queensland Rugby Union
- South Australian Rugby Union
- Tasmanian Rugby Union
- Victorian Rugby Union
- RugbyWA
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