Australian Rugby Shield
The Telstra Australian Rugby Shield is a national rugby union competition intended to unearth new talent and foster rugby union development outside the traditional rugby states New South Wales and Queensland.
The tournament was first played in 2000, and is played as a single round robin over five weekends with a first-past-the-post system in place for the first time in 2004.
Participating teams
- Adelaide Black Falcons
- Darwin Mosquitoes
- Melbourne Axemen
- Perth Gold
- New South Wales Country Cockatoos
- Queensland Country Heelers
Past Australian Rugby Shield winners
2000 Queensland Country Heelers
2001 New South Wales Country Cockatoos
2002 New South Wales Country Cockatoos
2003 Perth Gold
2004 New South Wales Country Cockatoos