Adelaide University Sharks Rugby Union Football

Today we’re slapping on a bit of Purple in celebration of Wear It Purple Day!

We are here to support young LGBTQIA+ youth and remind them that they have the right to feel safe, accepted, respected and proud to be who they are… especially in sport!

The message is simple: you belong, you are valued, and you can be yourself.

💜🏉🦈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Collab announcement! The Adelaide University Sharks are teaming up with the Tokyo Tsurumj Brats! Sharks X Brats! We cannot wait to meet our new rugby family and take to the pitch at the 2026 Bingham Cup and Amanda Mark Cup in Brisbane!

Tsurumi Brats Rugby Club [鶴見ブラット]] see you soon!

Get it while it’s hot! We are coming to the end of the Rugby season here in the great state of South Australia, and then we are packing our boots and heading to Brisbane for the IGR Bingham & Amanda Mark Cup 2026!

Now, while the men’s teams finish up next weekend against Brighton, you can continue to love rugby by support Adelaide University’s Premier Women’s team. They’ll be smashing it all the way up to mid August!

It doesn’t look like we have made the finals this year, but qualifying/elimination rounds begin on the 15th of August with our final ladies match at Wilfred Taylor Reserve. Then on the 22nd August is the Semi-Finals at Brighton Oval, and the on the 29th of August is the Seniors Grand Final at AA Bailey Reserve.

If you’ve spent any time around the Sharks, you’ve definitely met David… whether you realised it or not.

Equal parts rugby player, quizmaster and social media wizard, David has become one of the biggest personalities around the club. From putting your random trivia knowledge to the test at Sharks Quiz Night, to helping bring the club to life online, he’s always finding new ways to bring our community together. Honestly, we’re still waiting to find something he can’t do.

When a serious leg injury sidelined him, David didn’t disappear into the shadows. Instead, he was on the sidelines every week, cheering louder than most, supporting his teammates, and reminding everyone that being a Shark is about showing up for your people.

Now that he’s back where he belongs in the black jersey, it’s been an absolute joy watching him tear around the field again. The legs are working, the humour is intact, and he’s picked up right where he left off.

David came to the Sharks looking for community, but it’s safe to say he became one of the people who helps create it. Whether he’s organising an event, supporting his teammates, or pulling on the boots for game day, he brings heart, humour and plenty of energy to everything he does.

You may have missed our win on the weekend against Elizabeth Knights, but there’s no need to miss out on the rest of the events for July! Screenshot the calendar for all the AUSharks and AURugby happenings! Further details on socials.

We are hosting our annual Quiz Night if you haven’t heard for some silly reason. Theme: Over the Rainbow so go over the top with your lewk or simply celebrate with your best Judy in a Wizard of Oz/Wicked costume. Ticket link in bio, but hurry as we are almost sold out!

Team lists are in. 🖤
This weekend we’re back at home… sort of.
With Burnside currently rebuilding their clubhouse, and Souths still recovering from the recent rain damage to their grounds, we’re proud to host this week’s fixture at Adelaide Uni, despite it officially being a Burnside home game.

Our Sharks, Women, Reserve Grade and Premier Grade sides are all in action, and we’d love to see plenty of black around the sidelines. More importantly, this weekend is about something much bigger than rugby.
Together with Burnside, we’ll be remembering Kane, a much-loved member of both clubs. Kane wore the Burnside colours before joining Adelaide Uni, where he proudly represented our Sharks and often stepped up to pull on the Reserve Grade jersey whenever he was needed. He was a fierce competitor who gave everything on the field, but away from the game he was known for his enormous heart, his willingness to put the team first, and the impact he had on everyone around him.

His memory reminds us that while rugby is built on toughness, it’s also built on looking after one another. Check in on your mates, have the conversations that matter, and remember that no one has to face life’s battles alone.

We’ll see you at the club as we come together to honour Kane’s memory.

…loved Céline.

It was the dawn of time, several jerseys ago on the evergreen fields of Waite Oval, where a young crop-loving twunk, warmly known as Rusty, was abandoned at training by a mate who promptly performed a disappearing act. This is where our rugby story begins.

He started as a flanker, then grew into a mighty lock, and now you’ll find him embracing prop life as an absolute unit on the pitch: the total package and a force to be reckoned with.

Russell ‘Rusty’ Eckert is our longest-serving Shark, our current president, an excellent chef, handy AF, and known around town in all the best ways possible.

Whether he’s fixing something, building something, cooking something, organising something, or somehow ending up responsible for something, Rusty is the bloke who gets it done.

Few people have given more time, energy, blood, sweat, beers, and questionable life choices to the Sharks than Rusty. Through countless seasons, jerseys, teammates, and post-match celebrations, he’s remained the beating heart of the club.

PS – If you need your pavers pressure hosed, we know a guy.

The next Shark from the shiver is an absolute sweetheart, it’s our arcade and console gaming extraordinaire, Tynan!

A gentle giant with a b***y for days, Tynan is one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet, even if you play for the other team. For years, he was rarely seen without his trusty denim shorts, which became almost as iconic around the club as Tynan himself.

Tynan adores all things Sharks. When the original mascot Bruce was put through the wringer at Perth’s Purchas Cup (and somehow managed to get his own Grindr profile), Tynan stepped up and brought a new mascot to the team: Bruce 2.0.

He’s always looking for ways to incorporate Sharks paraphernalia into every aspect of life, whether it’s keychains, socks, plush toys, or anything else he can get his hands on.

We love Tynan and his passion for rugby, the Sharks, and the incredible community that comes with them.

We’re back! Pride month going strong and we bring the Pride home this week against and .rufc for our Pride Round! Senior grades will take to the pitch from 11:40 onwards.

Match Day Schedule:
Sharks: 11:40am
Premier Women: 12:40pm
Reserve Men: 2pm
Premier Men: 3:30pm