TheQuebec Rugby Football Union (QRFU) was a football league consisting of teams fromQuebec and formed in 1883. Eastern Ontario teams likeOttawa City andOttawa College joined in 1894.
The QRFU was formed officially on January 16, 1883, 10 days after theOntario Rugby Football Union. Teams from the QRFU would compete against member clubs of the ORFU for theDominion Championship of the CRFU beginning the following season. The QRFU adopted the ORFU point-scoring system in 1884 with the formation of theCanadian Rugby Football Union. TheMontreal Foot Ball Club claimed the first ever CRFU Championship 30–0 over theToronto Football Club.
Teams of the QRFU played 15 men to a side, and did not adopt a down system until 1904, when it agreed that a team must make five yards on its third scrimmage, regardless of the gain or loss on the previous two, to keep possession of the ball.
The QRFU valued a goal from the field (field goal) as six points, a try (touchdown), goals from a try, penalties and free kicks as four points; two points for safety touches; and one point for kicks to the deadline, rouges and touch in goals.
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1883 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1884 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1885 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1886 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1887 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1888 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1889 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1890 | McGill University |
| 1891 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1892 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1893 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1894 | Ottawa College |
| 1895 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1896 | Ottawa College |
| 1897 | Ottawa College |
| 1898 | Ottawa College |
| 1899 | Ottawa College |
| 1900 | Brockville Football Club |
| 1901 | Ottawa College |
| 1902 | Ottawa College |
| 1903 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1904 | Ottawa College |
| 1905 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1906 | Montreal Football Club |
| 1907–36 | No League |
| 1937 | Westmount |
| 1938–42 | No League |
| 1943 | Lachine RCAF Hurricanes |
| 1944 | St. Hyacinthe-Donnacona Navy |
The QRFU ceased operations in the1907 after losing their best teams to theIRFU. The league returned in 1937 for a single season and made another return during World War II.
The league is not related to, nor shares any history, with theQuebec Rugby Federation, which administersrugby football inQuebec.