Rugby Victoria Championship Approaches Defining Split with Two Rounds Remaining
The Rugby Victoria Championship has reached a critical point in the 2026 season, with just two rounds remaining before the competition splits into the Dewar Shield and Ward Shield phases.
With a maximum of 30 competition points still available to each club, every match in the coming fortnight will prove decisive in shaping the final standings and determining which teams will compete for the Dewar Shield.
At the conclusion of the next two rounds:
- The top five teams on the Championship ladder will progress to the Dewar Shield, contesting five additional rounds followed by finals.
- The bottom five teams will compete in the Ward Shield, running in parallel with the same structure.
The Rugby Victoria Championship ladder is determined by the combined performance of both 1st XV and 2nd XV teams, with 1st XV results carrying double weighting. This system reinforces the importance of whole-of-club performance across both grades.
Additionally, once the split occurs, both 1st XV and 2nd XV sides from each club will move together into the same competition, regardless of each grade’s individual ladder position.
With two rounds remaining, the race for the top five remains intense, although several positions have already been decided:
Harlequins Rugby Club – 97 points
- Remaining: Melbourne University [H], Melbourne Unicorns [H]
- ✅ Dewar Shield – Qualified
Power House Rugby Club – 97 points
- Remaining: Kiwi Hawthorn [H], Footscray [H]
- ✅ Dewar Shield – Qualified
Melbourne University Rugby Football Club – 73 points
- Remaining: Harlequins [A], Moorabbin [A]
Footscray Rugby Union Club – 70 points
- Remaining: Box Hill [A], Power House [A]
Melbourne Unicorns Rugby Club – 68 points
- Remaining: Moorabbin [H], Harlequins [A]
Endeavour Hills Rugby Union Football Club – 54 points
- Remaining: Brimbank [H], Kiwi Hawthorn [A]
Brimbank Rugby Union Club – 36 points
- Remaining: Endeavour Hills [A], Box Hill [H]
- ✅ Ward Shield – Qualified
Moorabbin Rugby Club – 31 points
- Remaining: Melbourne Unicorns [A], Melbourne University [H]
- ✅ Ward Shield – Qualified
Box Hill Rugby Union Football Club – 28 points
- Remaining: Footscray [H], Brimbank [A]
- ✅ Ward Shield – Qualified
Kiwi Hawthorn Rugby Union Football Club – 19 points
- Remaining: Power House [A], Endeavour Hills [A]
- ✅ Ward Shield – Qualified
While Harlequins and Power House have already secured their places in the Dewar Shield, the battle for the remaining three positions remains fiercely contested.
Melbourne University, Footscray, and Melbourne Unicorns currently occupy the top five, but with Endeavour Hills still within striking distance, there remains a mathematical possibility of movement depending on results across both grades.
With 1st XV results weighted double, bonus points and strong performances across both teams could prove decisive in the final standings.
The final two rounds promise high-stakes rugby across the competition, with clubs not only fighting for wins but for valuable competition points that could define their season trajectory.
Rugby Victoria encourages all supporters to get behind their clubs as the Championship enters this decisive phase, with every match carrying significant implications for finals ambitions.
