Sport Rugby league Inaugural season 1982 Number of teams 9 | Formerly known as ACTRL (1982-1997) Replaced by x | |
Instituted 1982
Formed from Group 8 (1932-1981) and ACTDRL/Group 19 (1946-1981) | ||
The Canberra Region Rugby League competition is more commonly known as the Canberra Raiders Cup, covering the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding New South Wales towns Queanbeyan, Goulburn and Yass. The competition is run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League and players are eligible for selection in the Canberra Division of the CRL Tier 1 Divisional Championships. The Canberra district competition has an under 18's, reserve and first grade competitions.
History
Rugby League in the Canberra District stems back to the late 1910s. Various Cups were held over the following decades, but the first round robin tournament in the area was competed in 1928 under the Federal Capital Territory and District Rugby League banner. The Group 8 Premiership began in 1932. The Australian Capital Territory and District Rugby League (ACTDRL) ran a second division in support of Group 8. By 1974, the CRL officially recognised this competition distinct from Group 8 and gave them a number, Group 19.
In 1980, Group 19 changed their name back to ACTRL and Group 8 to Canberra District Rugby League (CDRL) in 1981. With the inclusion of the Canberra Raiders in the NSWRL premiership in 1982, the control of senior rugby league in the area reverted to ACTRL, who now ran 3 competitions. The premier division played for the Molonglo Shield and the second divisions (North and South) played for the Canberra Cup.
As of 1998, the first grade teams compete for the Canberra Raiders Cup, with minor premiers being awarded the Molonglo Shield.
The 2013 Canberra Raiders Cup Premiers are the Queanbeyan Kangaroos.