Following an extensive period of consultation and meetings with senior clubs, Rugby Victoria wishes to provide an updated structure for 2026.
We thank clubs, coaches and volunteers for their ongoing support and feedback in this process.
Building capacity for clubs both on and off field, ensuring long term sustainability and viability has been prioritised, with the aim to have divisional Rugby to be in place by no later than 2028.
Clubs under this structure have 18 months to prepare. Promotion and relegation will then begin once divisional structures are implemented.
Key steps that will be implemented during this time, to support the development of a long-term viable and sustainable structure.
A phased in approach across two years will be utilised. This process will see clubs supported in building both on and off field capacity and ensure that we can build a sustainable long term model for senior rugby in Victoria.
Phase 1- 2026
- Implementation of the Rugby Victoria Championship for season 2026, aimed at building the capacity and depth of clubs, closing the gap between clubs.
- Introduction of player points system, to minimise player movement, in readiness for 2027
- Club compliance and governance standards for all clubs.
- Development and support of Conference Clubs to enter the divisional structure when they are ready.
- Introduction of a Senior Competition Working Party to meet regularly to monitor, review and provide recommendations as required
- Club governance and compliance (including financial) a priority in Phase 1, to ensure clubs are viable and sustainable long term.
In 2026, we will have 10 teams competing across the Dewar and Ward Shields. Brimbank will join Power House, Harlequins, Footscray, Endeavour Hills, Melbourne Unicorns, Moorabbin, Box Hill, Melbourne University and Kiwi Hawthorn.
Across the first 9 rounds all 10 starting in a combined competition. Each team will play each other once, in both First and Second grades. Upon the conclusion of Round 9, the competition will split into two competitions with 5 teams.
A new Rugby Victoria Championship has been created to calculate the strongest clubs in 2026, across both grades. This model is designed to build the capacity of clubs and depth of their senior squads, whilst delivering two key outcomes of the Senior Rugby Review:
- Competitive rugby and competitions the key outcome desired from any recommended changes. Minimisation of forfeits and creating an environment where all teams are a chance to compete and score each week the focus.
- Development of a competition structure that provides sustainability and competitiveness key. Specifically, the agreed outcome for all clubs was divisional Rugby, which provides a strong and competitive premier division, promotes new club growth, facilitates club improvement and development, and provides club the opportunity to rebuild in a competitive environment.
The Rugby Victoria Championship will be used in the Dewar/Ward Shields to determine the top 5.
Both 1st and 2nd Grades will continue to keep traditional ladders in their respective competitions, however for the purposes of the Rugby Victoria Championship, a combined ladder will be created.
Traditionally: 4 points are awarded to a win, 2 points are awarded to each team for a draw with 0 points for a loss. Bonus points are also still awarded for scoring 4 or more tries, as well as losing within 7.
Rugby Victoria Championship Table: The ladder for each competition will be pulled together, with a 2x weighting on the 1st Grade result. This means that for the Championship Table, 1st Grade wins will be worth 8 points etc.
This weighting allows for the top 5 (after Round 9) to be determined in a whole club approach without diluting the 1st grade competition.
Points differential will not be used as a tie breaker for ladder positions. Where multiple teams are tied, the Head-to-Head record across both grades will be used. If still tied, the record(s) against the next highest team will be used, and so on.
The Rugby Championship will be utilised in 2027 to decide the divisional structure for 2028.
If club numbers increase and entry in the divisional Rugby structure allows it, implementation of Divisional rugby may be brought forward to Season 2027.
For this to happen the following would need to occur
- If 13 club entries will see 7 teams in Dewar Shield and 6 in ward.
- If 14 Club Entries will be 8 in Dewar and 6 in Ward.
- Ladder placement in 2026 and compliance across all key metrics will be used should divisional be brought in 2027. It is incumbent on clubs to meet on and off field performance metrics to enter Dewar Shield once divisional Rugby is implemented.
The Rugby Championship will be structured as follows in 2027
- The top 6 clubs, based on accrued points after 10/11 rounds will enter Dewar Shield
- The remaining 6 clubs will enter Ward Shield.
- Promotion/relegation to begin from 2028 Season
- Clubs will play return fixtures against the clubs in their division
- A top 4 finals system to be utilised
- Ladder points will return to Rugby Vic Competition base format, in both first and second grade.
- Head-to-head will remain for season 2027 (Rationale: for and against from matches played against teams in other division may impact ladder position significantly)
Divisional rugby with promotion and relegation will begin in 2028
In 2026, we have 6 teams competing for the StoreLocal Lindroth Cup.
These will be the same six clubs that competed in 2025 with Melbourne University and Melbourne Unicorns fielding their own teams after merging in 2025. They will join, Endeavour Hills, Power House, Footscray and Western Districts in a 15 Round season that will see each team play 3 times against the others.
The first 9 rounds have been fixtured in line with the Dewar + Ward Shield fixtures, with the remaining 6 rounds to be released after the Dewar + Ward Shield split.
In 2026, the Conference competition has been renamed with a naming rights sponsor to the Bendigo Bank Conference Cup.
With 10 teams entering the competition there will be two conferences. Over a 13 Round season, each team will come against the other 4 in-conference match ups twice (both Home and Away), and the 5 cross conference teams once (either Home or Away).
Similar to what is seen in the NBA, finals will begin in conference, with the conference champions to compete in the Grand Final at the end of the season.
Casey, Eltham, Melbourne Chargers, Monash University and Power House will compete in the Metro Conference
Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Melton and Shepparton will compete for the Coulter Cup in the Country Conference
3rd Grade Rugby is no longer a requirement to being eligible for Dewar Shield. As such, only 6 clubs have indicated that they will compete in the 3rd Grade competition.
Harlequins, Endeavour Hills, Footscray, Melbourne Unicorns, Melbourne University and Power House will compete in a 15 round season.
Similar to the StoreLocal Lindroth Cup, the first 9 rounds have been fixtured in line with the Dewar + Ward Shield fixtures, with the remaining 6 rounds to be released after the Dewar + Ward Shield split.
The final review, which includes juniors, referees and all other aspects of rugby in Victoria will be released in coming months. This document, aligned to the Rugby Victoria Strategic plan, will outline the approach to growing the game across the next two world cups (2027 and 2029)
Building on the original success of the Lindroth 10s in 2024, Rugby Victoria is bringing back a development competition for teams/clubs striving to become StoreLocal Lindroth Cup teams.
Held fortnightly (beginning Apr 18) at a single location, the Lindroth Development Competition will be played under XVs Law, with Game On variations.
Clubs that have expressed interest in launching a Lindroth Development sides include: Box Hill, Brimbank, Geelong, Harlequins, Melbourne Unicorns, Monash University, Power House and Shepparton
Social Rugby is new in 2026. This model, as has been achieved with the Under 85kg competition, aims to grow the game and provide opportunities for players returning to rugby, developing as players and/or new to the game.
While planning is still in its infancy, Social Rugby will be held on Friday nights starting May 1 at a centralised hub.
This competition will act as a bridge to senior rugby for senior men, similar to Lindroth development.
Depending on the numbers per team/club, teams can be created on the night, and modified rules would be introduced.
The Bolton Cup Colts will return in 2026, with added flexibility for 18yo to compete in the Under 20s competition.
The introduction of a three year window for colts, coupled with the introduction of the Victorian Rugby Junior Championship, a state based competition for the best players in the state, is designed to increase transition to Senior Rugby and improve retention of players leaving secondary school.
The exact structure and fixtures are TBC as we get confirmation from clubs about what teams are being entered.
View the full structure presentation here
