Mens XV

The club fields senior Men’s sides in A Grade and B Grade. Our playing base includes local players and, with the transient nature of the Territory, we also welcome players from all around Australia each year. In fact, our playing history reflects the Territory’s recent history: many or our original players were here for the rebuilding after Cyclone Tracy, defence personal were a valuable addition to our playing numbers during the years of the Defence build-up, and most recently, workers employed during the construction phase of the gas project found a home with the Palmerston Crocs.

See Team Photos

Womens

The Palmerston Crocs fielded a women’s side in the inaugural women’s 15-a-side competition back in 1992-1993, and we went on to win the premiership that year. Those early days also saw club players selected to play for the Australia Wallaroos team – an outstanding achievement. There was no women’s competition during the 2000s, however it has been re-established in recent years, generally in the 10-a-side format of the game. The availability of players varies from season to season, however the club will always support a women’s team if the interest is there.

7s Rugby

In addition to the regular season (men’s 15-a-side or women’s 10-a-side), our senior players also have the opportunity to compete in other events throughout the year. These include the local Summer of Sevens Tournament held in September/October and a Territory major event, the Heineken Hottest 7s in the World held annually in November in Darwin (with a special-edition Hottest 7s kit each year).

Representative Rugby

Our club encourages all of its players and officials to compete at the highest levels. Over the years we have had significant numbers of players selected in NT representative sides. The NT sides that beat Scotland and Western Samoa in the 1990s were captained by players from Palmerston Rugby Union Club. Pictured is from the 2022 Hottest 7s when our Palmerston Crocs rubbed shoulders with some Wallabies.

Our club has also served as a pathway for officials to further their rugby careers. A number of NTRU Board Members all learnt their trade with the Palmerston Crocs.

We have won many minor premierships throughout the years and while A Grade premierships have proven a little elusive, we do have some hard-fought premiership wins to our name. We have also had more success with B Grade and C Grade premierships. A summary of premiership results follow.

Premiership Games

A GRADE

1977-78	South Darwin 19 def Palmerston 10
1986-87	Casuarina 15 def Palmerston 9
1987-88	South Darwin 23 def Palmerston 9
1989-90	University 9 def Palmerston 0
1990-91	Palmerston 6 def RSL 3
1995-96	Pint Dragons 27 def Palmerston 10
1997-98	Litchfield 13 def Palmerston 10
1998-97	Palmerston 16 def Pint Dragons 7
1999-00	University 20 def Palmerston 16
2002 (changeover season)	Palmerston
2007	Darwin Dragons 11 def Palmerston 0
2016	South Darwin 36 def Palmerston 31

B GRADE

1987-88	Palmerston 12 def South Darwin 11
1989-90	South Darwin 10 def Palmerston 3
1993-94	University 23 def Palmerston 7
1995-96	Pints Dragons 24 def Palmerston 0
1997-98	Palmerston 28 def Litchfield 3
1998-99	Palmerston 24 def Pints Dragons 7
2003	Darwin Dragons 13 def Palmerston 10
2006	Darwin Dragons 12 def Palmerston 10
2007	Palmerston 28 def Darwin Dragons 18
2010	Palmerston 27 def Darwin Dragons 5
2014	Palmerston 24 def Casuarina 23
2016	Palmerston 23 def University
2018	Casuarina 24 def Palmerston 17

C GRADE

1983-84	Combined Services 9 def Palmerston 4
1985-86	Palmerston 13 def RSL 8
1986-87	Casuarina 10 def Palmerston 0
1987-88	Palmerston 13 def RSL 8
1988-89	Palmerston 9 def Humpty Doo 3
1989-90	Humpty Doo 9 def Palmerston 0
1990-91	RSL 14 def Palmerston 0
1992-93	Palmerston 11 def University 0
1994-95	Palmerston 18 def Pints Dragons 8
1995-96	Palmerston 11 def South Darwin 7
1998-99	Litchfield 13 def Palmerston 7
2004	Palmerston 59 def Casuarina 0