Rugby league in South Australia
Encyclopedia
Rugby league in South Australia is a minority sport
, played at amateur level.
in the state traces its roots in the state back to the 1940s, when the Port Adelaide rugby union
team split, and defected to rugby league
.
South Australia
's only professional rugby league team, the Adelaide Rams
, had a short but eventful existence. Originally the Australian Rugby League
planned to relocate a Sydney team to Adelaide but the Super League war
and the SARL
's decision to align themselves with the News Ltd Super League
in 1995 slowed down progress. Later in 1995, with Super League still only consisting of nine teams and Melbourne still aligned with the ARL
, a decision was made to give Adelaide the 10th Super League license.
Brought into existence for the 1997
Super League
season they had instant success. In 1998
they were selected to join the 20-team National Rugby League
, however rumours abounded that they were to axed from the 1999 season as part of the rationalisation of teams (from 20 to 14) in the competition, crowds dropped off. As expected the team was culled from the 1999 season.
in South Australia
. South Australia is an Affiliated State of the overall Australian governing body the Australian Rugby League
.
Representative teams are selected each year to compete in the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League (ASSRL) National Championships at both 15 and 18 years of age respectively, competing against Western Australia, Victoria, Northern Territory and New South Wales Combined Independent Schools (NSW CIS) at both age levels. Players who compete representing South Australia each year are eligible to be selected into both the Australian Merit Squad and the Australian Affiliated States Merit Squad at the 15 Years championships, and the Australian Schoolboys as well as the Australian Affiliated States team at the 18 Years championships.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
, played at amateur level.
History
Rugby leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
in the state traces its roots in the state back to the 1940s, when the Port Adelaide rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team split, and defected to rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
.
South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
's only professional rugby league team, the Adelaide Rams
Adelaide Rams
The Adelaide Rams were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The team was formed in 1995 for the planned rebel Super League competition, which eventually ran parallel to the rival Australian Rugby League competition in 1997...
, had a short but eventful existence. Originally the Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
planned to relocate a Sydney team to Adelaide but the Super League war
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
and the SARL
South Australian Rugby League
-External links:**...
's decision to align themselves with the News Ltd Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
in 1995 slowed down progress. Later in 1995, with Super League still only consisting of nine teams and Melbourne still aligned with the ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
, a decision was made to give Adelaide the 10th Super League license.
Brought into existence for the 1997
Super League (Australia) season 1997
The 1997 Super League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the first and only to be run by the News Limited-controlled Super League organisation...
Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
season they had instant success. In 1998
National Rugby League season 1998
The 1998 NRL season was the 91st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the inaugural season of the newly formed National Rugby League. After the Australian Rugby League and Super League organisations ran separate competitions parallel to each other in 1997, they joined to...
they were selected to join the 20-team National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
, however rumours abounded that they were to axed from the 1999 season as part of the rationalisation of teams (from 20 to 14) in the competition, crowds dropped off. As expected the team was culled from the 1999 season.
Governing body
The South Australian Rugby League is responsible for administering the game of rugby leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. South Australia is an Affiliated State of the overall Australian governing body the Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
.
State competitions
There are five senior clubs and six junior clubs located around Adelaide. Competitions are run from Under 7s through to First Grade.Representative teams are selected each year to compete in the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League (ASSRL) National Championships at both 15 and 18 years of age respectively, competing against Western Australia, Victoria, Northern Territory and New South Wales Combined Independent Schools (NSW CIS) at both age levels. Players who compete representing South Australia each year are eligible to be selected into both the Australian Merit Squad and the Australian Affiliated States Merit Squad at the 15 Years championships, and the Australian Schoolboys as well as the Australian Affiliated States team at the 18 Years championships.
Premiership Clubs
| Club | Suburb | Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Central Districts Roosters | Elizabeth Sailsbury Cawler | Uley Road Reserve |
| Cougar Districts | Port Adelaide | Langham Place |
| Eels Rugby League | Parra Districts | Cnr. Flame Av. & Churchhill Rd North,Dry Creek |
| Northern Districts | Kensington | |
| South Adelaide | Hackham | Hackham Community Sports and Social Club |
| Tigers Rugby League | Mitchell Park | Mitchell Park Sports & Community Club |