Top Rugby Clubs in Melbourne Ranked
Melbourne may be an Australian rules city, but it has a strong and competitive senior rugby scene. Ten clubs played in Victoria’s top senior men’s competition in 2026, each with its own history, culture, and ambitions.
This list ranks the top rugby clubs in Melbourne based on a mix of recent results, such as premierships and finals appearances over the past few seasons, and long-term history in the Dewar Shield. Rankings like this are always open to debate, and they can change quickly from one season to the next.
How We Ranked the Clubs
We looked at four main factors:
- Recent premierships: Dewar Shield titles from 2022 to 2026
- Recent finals form: grand final and preliminary final appearances
- Historical success: total Dewar Shield titles based on published records
- Club strength: depth across grades, women’s rugby, and player numbers where known
Quick Rankings Table
| Rank | Club | Recent Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power House | Dewar Shield premiers 2024, 2025, 2026 |
| 2 | Harlequins | Premiers 2022, 2023; grand finalists 2025, 2026 |
| 3 | Melbourne Unicorns | Most Dewar Shield titles in history |
| 4 | Footscray | 2025 minor premiers |
| 5 | Endeavour Hills | 2024 grand finalists, 2025 preliminary finalists |
| 6 | Moorabbin | Record six straight titles, 1981 to 1986 |
| 7 | Melbourne University | Founding club with a long title history |
| 8 | Box Hill | Back-to-back premiers in 2000 and 2001 |
| 9 | Kiwi Hawthorn | Returned to the Dewar Shield in 2025 |
| 10 | Brimbank | Joined the top competition in 2026 |
1. Power House
There is no debate about the top spot. Power House won three straight Dewar Shields from 2024 to 2026, including the 100th edition of the competition in 2026, when it beat Harlequins 39 to 36 in a thrilling grand final. The club also won the Women’s Lindroth Cup in 2026.
Founded in 1933 and based at Albert Park, Power House has 14 Dewar Shield titles and reported more than 100 players at pre-season training in 2026, with seven senior teams entered. That depth is a big reason for its dominance.
2. Harlequins
Harlequins has been Power House’s main rival in recent years. Quins won back-to-back premierships in 2022 and 2023, then reached the grand final again in both 2025 and 2026, losing to Power House each time. The club also won a three-peat from 2013 to 2015.
In 2025, Harlequins showed their finals strength by upsetting minor premiers Footscray 43 to 35 in the preliminary final. Few clubs have been as consistent in big matches.
3. Melbourne Unicorns
The Melbourne Unicorns, officially Melbourne Rugby Club, won the very first Dewar Shield in 1909 and hold the most titles in the competition’s history, with around 20 premierships in the published list. Their most recent titles came in 2018 and 2019, and they won five premierships in the 2010s.
The Unicorns remain a strong, well-organised club, though they have not reached the same recent finals heights as Power House and Harlequins.
4. Footscray
Footscray finished as minor premiers in 2025, meaning it topped the ladder at the end of the regular season. Although the club fell to Harlequins in the preliminary final, finishing first over a full season is a sign of real quality.
Footscray also has a proud history. It won three premierships in the 1930s and was the only non-service club competing in 1945, near the end of the Second World War.
5. Endeavour Hills
Endeavour Hills, from Melbourne’s south-east, has been one of the most competitive clubs of recent seasons. It reached the 2024 grand final and the 2025 preliminary final, losing to Power House 23 to 14. Its women’s team also reached the 2025 Lindroth Cup grand final.
The club is known for strong community links in a fast-growing part of the city.
6. Moorabbin
Moorabbin owns one of the great records in Victorian rugby: six straight Dewar Shields from 1981 to 1986. With around 15 titles, it ranks second on the all-time list. The club’s most recent premiership came in 2012.
Moorabbin remains a tough opponent, as shown by its 34 to 17 win over Kiwi Hawthorn in 2026, but it has not featured in recent grand finals.
7. Melbourne University
Melbourne University is one of Victoria’s oldest rugby clubs and played in the first Dewar Shield season in 1909. It was among the strongest clubs in the post-war era, with multiple titles in the 1950s and 1960s.
As a student club, it benefits from a steady flow of new players each year, but it can also face turnover as students graduate and move on.
8. Box Hill
Box Hill, from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, won back-to-back Dewar Shields in 2000 and 2001, along with a title in the 1990s. The club was chosen to host the 2026 grand finals, giving it a central role on the biggest day of the season.
Box Hill has not been a recent finals force at the top level, but it remains an important part of the competition.
9. Kiwi Hawthorn
Kiwi Hawthorn has one of the richest histories of any Melbourne club. Founded by New Zealand expats in 1923, it has 14 Dewar Shield titles and produced Wallabies John Meadows and Doug Osborne in the 1970s.
The club returned to the Dewar Shield in 2025 after time away and is rebuilding. Highlights have included a 40 to 14 win over Melbourne University in 2025, and its home at Lewin Reserve in Glen Iris now has a modern pavilion.
10. Brimbank
Brimbank, from Melbourne’s west, joined Victoria’s top senior competition in 2026. As the newest club in the group, it has the most room to grow and represents an important expansion of top-level rugby into new parts of the city.
Other Clubs to Watch
Beyond the top ten, Melbourne and regional Victoria have many other active clubs in competitions such as the Conference Cup and Lindroth Cup, including Casey, Eltham, Melbourne Chargers, Monash University, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Melton, and Shepparton. Shepparton is set to join the top senior competition in 2027.
Women’s Rugby Strength
A full picture of club strength also includes women’s rugby. In recent seasons, Power House and Endeavour Hills have stood out, meeting in the 2025 Lindroth Cup grand final, with Power House winning the women’s title in 2026. Clubs that invest in women’s teams are building larger, more sustainable playing groups, which is likely to matter even more as entry standards for premier clubs are introduced.
How Rankings Could Change
Victorian rugby is entering a period of change. Rugby Victoria plans to return to Top 4 finals in 2027, add Shepparton, select a 12th club, and move toward promotion and relegation by 2028. Clubs that build depth, junior pathways, and strong women’s programs will be best placed to climb the rankings.
Final Thoughts
The top rugby clubs in Melbourne ranked today are led by Power House, whose three straight titles make it the clear number one, followed closely by long-time rival Harlequins. Historic giants like the Unicorns, Moorabbin, and Kiwi Hawthorn, rising sides like Footscray and Endeavour Hills, and newcomer Brimbank make the competition deeper than many people realise. With big structural changes ahead, the next few seasons could reshape this list again.
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