Melbourne University Rugby Football Club

Source:

MURFC fields men's and women's teams in the Senior Divisions across First, Second and Third Grades, a Women’s team, in addition to a Colts (U20) team and an over 35’s “Gents” team. MURFC also run 7s teams over the summer. Several recent MURFC players have been recruited into professional teams,{{cite web |url=https://melbournerebels.com/2017/08/08/rising-name-extended-training-squad/ |title=Rising name extended training squad – Melbourne Rebels |website=melbournerebels.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816122002/https://melbournerebels.com/2017/08/08/rising-name-extended-training-squad/ |archive-date=2017-08-16}} notably including current Melbourne Rebels and Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/aru-melbourne-rebels-lock-in-jordan-uelese-until-after-rugby-world-cup-20171121-gzpnul.html|title=ARU, Melbourne Rebels lock in Jordan Uelese until after Rugby World Cup|first=Roy|last=Ward|date=21 November 2017|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

Playing membership is not restricted to University of Melbourne students.

Men's Premier Division teams:

• Premier 1
• Premier 2
• Premier 3

These teams compete for the Dewar Shield in Victoria's top-tier men's grade competition.https://melbournerebels.com/category/dewar-shield/

Women's Premier Division teams:

• Premier 1

These teams compete for the Lindroth Cup in Victoria's top-tier women's grade competition.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyvic.com.au/play/competitions/womens|title=Womens|last=Chaya|publisher=}}

Men's age-restricted Colts (U20) Division teams:

• Colts 1
• Colts 2

Women's age-restricted competition teams:

• Premier 1

Men's social competition teams:

• Gents 1

Teams in this grade compete for pride.

Source:http://melbourneunirugby.com.au/

Nicknamed Uni or The Students, the club plays at HG Smith Oval (and surrounding fields) in Parkville.

MURFC typically fields a strong contingent of local and international players, with Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, France, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands strongly represented.

The club's colours are black & blue. However in the park have utilized Black, blue and white with a strip featuring prominent blue/white hoops with black trim.

After a winning performance, MURFC men's teams typically perform the celebratory club song.

{{blockquote|We are the team from University, and rugby union is our game.

When you come to play the Black and Blue, the Black and Blue will send you away.

We grin when we win. And when we do, you'll hear us sing:

We live — and die — to score, one more try!

We are the winning team. Aye!|sign=|source=}}

The club maintains close ties with the university. Particularly during the off/pre-season, and for various strength & conditioning activities throughout the year, training sessions are often carried out on campus, making use of the University of Melbourne's extensive sporting facilities.{{Cite news|url=https://rugbynews.net.au/dewar-shield-success-breeds-change-for-melbourne-university/|title=Dewar Shield: Success breeds change for Melbourne University {{!}} Rugby News|date=2016-03-16|work=Rugby News|access-date=2018-07-26|language=en-US}}

Students of the university that play with MURFC are eligible to compete at the annual Australian University Games; the club serves as a major conduit for student athletes wishing to participate in the Games, and is typically responsible for the training and organisation of the rugby team(s) sent to represent the University of Melbourne.{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/AustralianUniChampionships|title=Melbourne University Sport|website=www.sport.unimelb.edu.au}}{{cite web|url=http://www.australianunigames.com.au/sports/rugby-union-7-s|title=Australian University Games - Rugby Union 7's|website=www.australianunigames.com.au}}

Buildcorp became Principal Sponsor of MURFC in 2017 season, with a prominent logo featured on the chest of senior grade jerseys.{{cite web|url=http://news.buildcorp.com.au/buildcorp-strengthens-ties-melbourne-university-rugby/|title=Buildcorp strengthens ties with Melbourne University Rugby - Buildcorp|date=28 April 2017|publisher=}}

• Edward "Weary" Dunlop (Wallabies)
• Matt Cockbain (Wallabies, Reds)
• Geoff Vaughan (Wallabies)
• Fereti Sa'aga (Melbourne Rebels)
• Rob Leota (Melbourne Rebels)
• Jordan Uelese (Wallabies, Melbourne Rebels)
• Sam Jeffries (Melbourne Rebels)
• Jonah Placid (Melbourne Rebels)
• Dom Shipperley (Melbourne Rebels)

In 1908, the University of Sydney challenged the students of the University of Melbourne to play a game of rugby football. A core group of players with a motivation to compete more regularly lead to the formation of the Club in the following year; officially founded in 1909, the Melbourne University Rugby Football Club (MURFC) was the oldest of five Foundation Clubs to establish the Victorian Rugby Union. This first intervarsity game and the subsequent founding of MURFC was commemorated in 2009 with an exhibition match between the Melbourne and Sydney university sides, each wearing heritage jerseys in a nod to their shared history.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/news/Rugby26May09.html |title=Melbourne University Sport - |website=www.sport.unimelb.edu.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105043143/http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/news/Rugby26May09.html |archive-date=2012-01-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.susf.com.au/article/universities-celebrate-centenary-match|title=Universities celebrate centenary match|website=www.susf.com.au|date=30 May 2009}} MURFC won its first Premiership in 1910, and is unique in having fielded a team in the top-tier of Victorian club rugby in every season since its foundation.

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{{University of Melbourne}}

Category:Rugby union teams in Victoria (state)

Category:Rugby clubs established in 1909

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Melbourne

Category:1909 establishments in Australia

Category:Sport at the University of Melbourne

Category:University and college rugby union clubs in Australia

Category:Sport in the City of Melbourne (LGA)