Illawarra Rugby League
The Illawarra Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Wollongong, NSW. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1911 with five clubs.. The area provides a nursery of juniors for the Illawarra Steelers and St George Illawarra Dragons. The season is contested by seven teams and concludes with a finals series involving the top four teams.
History
Only the Northern parts of the Illawarra have traditionally been included in this competition, with teams further south playing in Group 7. However, Shellharbour's decision in 2009 to field a team in the NSW Cup was coupled with a decision to play in the Illawarra Rugby League as well, blurring the boundary between the two competitions. Other Group 7 clubs are fielding teams in the lower leagues of Illawarra competitions and there's a possibility the two competitions may merge.The Illawarra Division is one of the strongest, along with Newcastle, local competition in New South Wales. The league features many former and current NRL players and also National Youth Competition players. The Illawarra Division Senior representative team are two-time National Country champions and have won the Country Rugby League championships consistently. The Division also supplies players to the NSWRL Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup competitions.
On 21 July 2011, whilst celebrating their centenary, Illawarra Rugby League announced their "Team of the Century". Immortals Graeme Langlands and Bob Fulton featured at fullback and five-eighth respectively, as well as Harry Wells at centre. The entire team follows:
Teams
Firsts and Reserves
In 2018, Seven clubs shall field teams in the First and Second Grade:| - | - | - | ||||
Berkeley Eagles Berkeley, NSW Ground: Berkeley Sports Ground First season: 1955 | Collegians North Wollongong, NSW Ground: University Oval First season: 1933 | Corrimal Cougars Corrimal, NSW Ground: Robert Ziems Park First season: 1912 | Dapto Canaries Dapto, NSW Ground: Dapto Showground First season: 1911 | Helensburgh Tigers Helensburgh, NSW Ground: Rex Jackson Oval First season: 1911 | Thirroul Butchers Thirroul, NSW Ground: Thomas Gibson Oval First season: 1913 | Western Suburbs Red Devils Unanderra, NSW Ground: Sid Parrish Park First season:1949 |
Former clubs
- Mount Keira Tri-Colours
- Port Kembla Blacks 1914 to 2008
- Unanderra
- Wollongong
- University of Wollongong Titans
- West Wollongong
First Grade Premiers
Women's Opens Premiership
Third Grade (Shield) Competition
The Illawarra District Rugby League runs a "Third Grade" competition featuring Predominately Second Division mixed with Third Grade teams from the Illawarra:| Club | Status | Homeground |
| Avondale | Village | Reed Park, Dapto |
| Corrimal Cougars | Third Grade | Ziems Park, Corrimal |
| Mount Kembla | Village | Mt. Kembla Oval, Mount Kembla |
| Northern Suburbs | Village | Jim Allen Oval, Wombarra |
| North Wollongong Surf | Village | University Oval, Wollongong |
| Wests | Third Grade | Parrish Park, Figtree |
| Windang | Village | Boronia Oval, Windang |