Kiwi Hawthorn Premiership Wins Through the Years
Premierships are the clearest measure of a rugby club’s success, and few Victorian clubs have collected as many as Kiwi Hawthorn. Across more than a century, the club, first as the Kiwis and later as Kiwi Hawthorn, has won the Dewar Shield, Victoria’s top club rugby trophy, on 14 occasions according to published competition records.
This article walks through those premiership wins era by era, looking at what made each period special and how the club’s winning story has changed over time.
What the Dewar Shield Means
The Dewar Shield is the premier amateur rugby union competition in Victoria. It was first awarded in 1909, with the trophy donated by John Dewar and Sons. The competition paused during both World Wars, and the modern Victorian Rugby Union competition began in 1926, when the Kiwis were one of six founding clubs.
Winning the Dewar Shield means finishing as the best first-grade team in the state for that season. For an amateur club, it is the highest honour available.
Complete List of Premiership Wins
Here is every Dewar Shield premiership credited to the club in published records:
| Era | Premiership Years | Club Name | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interwar years | 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1939 | Kiwis | 5 |
| Golden era | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980 | Kiwis | 7 |
| Post-merger | 1993, 1996 | Kiwi Hawthorn | 2 |
| Total | 1927 to 1996 | Both names | 14 |
Only a few clubs in Victoria have a comparable total. Competition records place Kiwi Hawthorn among the most successful clubs in Dewar Shield history, alongside sides such as Melbourne Unicorns, Moorabbin, and Power House.
The First Wave: 1927 to 1939
The Kiwis’ first premiership came in 1927, just one year after the modern union competition restarted. They followed it with titles in 1928 and 1929, completing a three-in-a-row run almost straight away.
Several factors help explain this early success:
- Many players had grown up in New Zealand, where rugby was the national game
- The club had a strong team spirit built on a shared homeland
- The competition was still small, and experienced players made a big difference
Another title arrived in 1931. Then, in 1939, the Kiwis won once more, one of the last premierships before the Second World War halted club rugby. Rugby Victoria’s history notes a disputed final involving the Kiwis and Power House around that time, adding a touch of controversy to the era.
Five premierships in just over a decade made the Kiwis one of the defining clubs of early Victorian rugby.
The Long Wait: 1940s to 1960s
After 1939, the club went three decades without a first-grade premiership. Club rugby did not resume until 1946, and new teams grew stronger in the post-war years.
These were not wasted years, though. The club kept competing, recruiting, and building the base that would power its next era. Volunteers such as John Woodhouse, who joined in 1963, were part of the groundwork that made later success possible.
The Golden Era: 1970 to 1980
The 1970s were the high point of the club’s history. In just 11 seasons, the Kiwis won seven Dewar Shield premierships.
This was a remarkable return after a 30-year wait. The club combined experienced forwards with quick, skilful backs, and its depth meant it could keep winning even as players moved on. For opposing clubs, a match against the Kiwis became one of the toughest fixtures of the season, and the club’s reputation drew talented players eager to be part of a winning culture.
The 1970 to 1972 Three-Peat
The run began in dramatic fashion. The 1970 premiership was reportedly won with a last-minute drop goal, a finish still remembered by former players. Fourteen members of that side went on to represent Victoria.
The 1971 team went one better by finishing the season undefeated, a rare achievement in any competition. The 1972 premiership completed the three-in-a-row and featured players who would later play for the Wallabies.
In 2021, the club celebrated the 50th anniversary of these premierships with a reunion of the 1970 to 1972 teams, showing how important this period remains to its identity.
Back-to-Back Again in 1976 and 1977
After a short gap, the Kiwis returned to the top with consecutive titles in 1976 and 1977. This proved the club’s success was not tied to one group of players, but to a culture that kept producing winning teams.
Finishing Strong in 1979 and 1980
The decade closed with two more premierships, in 1979 and 1980. By the end of 1980, the Kiwis had won 12 Dewar Shields in total.
Key figures from this era included:
- John Meadows, a prop who played 22 Tests for Australia
- Doug Osborne, a winger who played Test rugby for the Wallabies
- Club stalwarts such as Gerry Frost, Peter Signal, Garry Kearney, Grant Furlonger, and Paul Barnes
Post-Merger Titles: 1993 and 1996
In 1987, the Kiwis merged with Hawthorn Rugby Club to become Kiwi Hawthorn. The new club soon showed it could still win at the highest level.
Kiwi Hawthorn claimed the Dewar Shield in 1993 and again in 1996, bringing the club’s total to 14. These remain the club’s most recent first-grade premierships.
Junior and Colts Success
The merged club also collected titles below first grade. Club records list:
- Two Under 18 premierships
- Three Colts premierships
These wins mattered because they showed the club was developing young players, not just relying on established senior talent.
Patterns Behind the Wins
Looking across all 14 premierships, a few patterns stand out:
- Winning in clusters: most titles came in runs, such as 1927 to 1929 and 1970 to 1972
- Strong forward traditions: linked to the club’s New Zealand rugby roots
- Representative talent: the best sides produced state players and Wallabies
- Long-serving people: coaches and volunteers who stayed for decades
How the Club’s Record Compares
Placing the club’s 14 titles in context shows how strong its record is. The year-by-year list of Dewar Shield winners shows only a small group of clubs with double-figure premiership totals.
| Club | Dewar Shield Titles (Published List) |
|---|---|
| Melbourne Unicorns | 20 |
| Moorabbin | 15 |
| Kiwi Hawthorn | 14 |
| Power House | 14 |
Because historical lists may be incomplete, these totals are best treated as a guide rather than an official ranking.
Chasing the Next Premiership
Since 1996, the club has gone through quieter periods, including time outside the top division. In December 2024, Rugby Victoria approved Kiwi Hawthorn’s return to the Dewar Shield for the 2025 season, after the club showed strong on-field and off-field plans.
Now based at Lewin Reserve in Glen Iris, the club is working to rebuild its senior squad and compete with Victoria’s best once again. For players and supporters, the goal is clear: adding a 15th Dewar Shield to the honour board.
Final Thoughts
Kiwi Hawthorn’s premiership wins through the years tell the story of a club that has won in every era of modern Victorian rugby, from the 1920s Kiwis to the 1970s golden age and the post-merger titles of the 1990s. With 14 Dewar Shields and a renewed place in the top competition, the club has a proud past and a clear target for the future.
Jante Smith is a creative and dedicated content writer who loves turning ideas into clear and engaging stories. She writes blog posts and articles that connect with readers. She ensures every piece of content is well-structured and easy to understand. Her writing helps our brand share useful information and build strong relationships with our audience.