Melbourne University Rugby Football Club (MURFC), the oldest rugby club in Victoria, is a Foundation Club of the Victorian Rugby Union, participating in the top-tier Victorian Premier Division since 1909.[1] MURFC is the only Foundation Club to remain continuously in the Victorian Premier Division since its inception.[2]
 | ||
| Union | Australian Rugby Union | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Victorian Rugby Union | |
| Nickname(s) | Uni or The Students | |
| Founded | 1909 | |
| Region | Melbourne, Inner-North (Parkville) | |
| Ground(s) | HG Smith Oval, Parkville (Capacity: 3,000) | |
| League(s) | Dewar Shield | |
| 2024 | 7th | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| melbourneunirugby | ||
MURFC fields men's and women's teams in the Senior Divisions across First, Second and Third Grades, a Women’s team, in addition to a Colts (U20) team and an over 35’s “Gents” team. MURFC also run 7s teams over the summer. Several recent MURFC players have been recruited into professional teams,[3] notably including current Melbourne Rebels and Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese.[4]
Playing membership is not restricted to University of Melbourne students.
Senior Men's
editMen's Premier Division teams:
- Premier 1
- Premier 2
- Premier 3
These teams compete for the Dewar Shield in Victoria's top-tier men's grade competition.[5]
Senior Women's
editWomen's Premier Division teams:
- Premier 1
These teams compete for the Lindroth Cup in Victoria's top-tier women's grade competition.[6]
Colts (U20)
editMen's age-restricted Colts (U20) Division teams:
- Colts 1
- Colts 2
Youth Girls
editWomen's age-restricted competition teams:
- Premier 1
Masters
editMen's social competition teams:
- Gents 1
Teams in this grade compete for pride.
Nicknamed Uni or The Students, the club plays at HG Smith Oval (and surrounding fields) in Parkville.
MURFC typically fields a strong contingent of local and international players, with Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, France, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands strongly represented.
The club's colours are black & blue. However in the park have utilized Black, blue and white with a strip featuring prominent blue/white hoops with black trim.
Club song
editAfter a winning performance, MURFC men's teams typically perform the celebratory club song.
We are the team from University, and rugby union is our game.
When you come to play the Black and Blue, the Black and Blue will send you away.
We grin when we win. And when we do, you'll hear us sing:
We live — and die — to score, one more try!
We are the winning team. Aye!
Association with University of Melbourne
editThe club maintains close ties with the university. Particularly during the off/pre-season, and for various strength & conditioning activities throughout the year, training sessions are often carried out on campus, making use of the University of Melbourne's extensive sporting facilities.[8]
Students of the university that play with MURFC are eligible to compete at the annual Australian University Games; the club serves as a major conduit for student athletes wishing to participate in the Games, and is typically responsible for the training and organisation of the rugby team(s) sent to represent the University of Melbourne.[9][10]
Sponsorship
editBuildcorp became Principal Sponsor of MURFC in 2017 season, with a prominent logo featured on the chest of senior grade jerseys.[11]
Notable players
edit- Edward "Weary" Dunlop (Wallabies)
- Matt Cockbain (Wallabies, Reds)
- Geoff Vaughan (Wallabies)
- Fereti Sa'aga (Melbourne Rebels)
- Rob Leota (Melbourne Rebels)
- Jordan Uelese (Wallabies, Melbourne Rebels)
- Sam Jeffries (Melbourne Rebels)
- Jonah Placid (Melbourne Rebels)
- Dom Shipperley (Melbourne Rebels)
History
editIn 1908, the University of Sydney challenged the students of the University of Melbourne to play a game of rugby football. A core group of players with a motivation to compete more regularly lead to the formation of the Club in the following year; officially founded in 1909, the Melbourne University Rugby Football Club (MURFC) was the oldest of five Foundation Clubs to establish the Victorian Rugby Union. This first intervarsity game and the subsequent founding of MURFC was commemorated in 2009 with an exhibition match between the Melbourne and Sydney university sides, each wearing heritage jerseys in a nod to their shared history.[13][14] MURFC won its first Premiership in 1910, and is unique in having fielded a team in the top-tier of Victorian club rugby in every season since its foundation.
References
edit- ^ "University of Melbourne commemorates 100 years of rugby rivalry against Sydney University". 31 March 2022.
- ^ a b "OUR CLUB - MURFCMURFC". melbourneunirugby.com.au.
- ^ "Rising name extended training squad – Melbourne Rebels". melbournerebels.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017.
- ^ Ward, Roy (21 November 2017). "ARU, Melbourne Rebels lock in Jordan Uelese until after Rugby World Cup". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ https://melbournerebels.com/category/dewar-shield/
- ^ Chaya. "Womens".
- ^ http://melbourneunirugby.com.au/
- ^ "Dewar Shield: Success breeds change for Melbourne University | Rugby News". Rugby News. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- ^ "Melbourne University Sport". www.sport.unimelb.edu.au.
- ^ "Australian University Games - Rugby Union 7's". www.australianunigames.com.au.
- ^ "Buildcorp strengthens ties with Melbourne University Rugby - Buildcorp". 28 April 2017.
- ^ "CONTACTS - MURFCMURFC". melbourneunirugby.com.au.
- ^ "Melbourne University Sport -". www.sport.unimelb.edu.au. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012.
- ^ "Universities celebrate centenary match". www.susf.com.au. 30 May 2009.