The Clayton Cup is a trophy awarded by the Country Rugby League to the NSW country rugby league team with the best overall record for that season. To be eligible, the team must win the highest level of competition in its region. Usually the winner of the Clayton Cup goes through the season undefeated.
The Cup was donated by Reub Clayton, an early rugby league administrator in country NSW, and was first awarded in 1937 to West Tamworth Lions. Since then, the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Forster Tuncurry Hawks and Cobar Roosters have been the most successful clubs, each winning the trophy three times.
Winners
- 1937 West Tamworth Robins (Group 4 Rugby League)
- 1938 Nimmitabel (Group 19 Rugby League)
- 1939 Wagga Magpies (Group 13 Rugby League)
- 1940 Henty (Group 13 Rugby League)
- 1946 Port Kembla (Illawarra Rugby League)
- 1947 Bombala (Group 19 Rugby League)
- 1948 Cootamundra (Group 9 Rugby League)
- 1949 Tumut (Group 9 Rugby League)
- 1950 Bathurst Railway (Group 10 Rugby League)
- 1951 North Tamworth Bears (Group 4 Rugby League)
- 1952 Gundagai (Group 9 Rugby League)
- 1953 Young (Group 9 Rugby League)
- 1954 Orange CYMS (Group 10 Rugby League)
- 1955 Young (Group 9 Rugby League)
- 1956 Maitland (Newcastle Rugby League)
- 1957 Temora (Group 9 Rugby League)
- 1958 Coonamble (Group 14 Rugby League)
- 1959 Dubbo Macquarie (Group 11 Rugby League)
- 1960 Goulburn Workers (Group 8 Rugby League)
- 1961 Ballina (Group 1 Rugby League)
- 1962 Warialda (Group 19 Rugby League)
- 1963 Tweed Heads Seagulls (Group 18 Rugby League)
- 1964 Oberon (Group 10 Rugby League)
- 1965 Tullibigeal (Group 17 Rugby League)
- 1966 Picton Magpies (Group 6 Rugby League)
- 1967 Casino (Group 1 Rugby League)
- 1968 Darlington Point (Group 17 Rugby League)
- 1969 Tarcutta (Group 13 Rugby League)
- 1970 Delegate (Group 19 Rugby League)
- 1971 Cobar (Group 15 Rugby League)
- 1972 Cobar (Group 15 Rugby League)
- 1973 Gunnedah (Group 4 Rugby League)
- 1974 Queanbeyan United (Group 8 Rugby League)
- 1975 Albury Blues (Group 13 Rugby League)
- 1976 Bombala (Group 16 Rugby League)
- 1977 Belconnen United (Group 19 Rugby League)
- 1978 Sawtell (Group 2 Rugby League)
- 1979 Scone (Group 21 Rugby League)
- 1980 Narwan (Group 19 Rugby League)
- 1981 Bellingen (Group 2 Rugby League)
- 1982 Warilla (Group 7 Rugby League)
- 1983 Tweed Heads Seagulls (Group 18 Rugby League)
- 1984 Bourke (Group 15 Rugby League)
- 1985 Tumbarumba (Group 13 Rugby League)
- 1986 Tumbarumba (Group 13 Rugby League)
- 1987 Lismore Marist Brothers (Group 1 Rugby League)
- 1988 Bega (Group 16 Rugby League)
- 1989 Tweed Heads Seagulls (Group 18 Rugby League)
- 1990 Singleton (Group 21 Rugby League)
- 1991 Mittagong Lions (Group 6 Rugby League)
- 1992 Western Suburbs (Newcastle Rugby League)
- 1993 Rankins Springs (Group 17 Rugby League)
- 1994 Forster Tuncurry Hawks (Group 3 Rugby League)
- 1995 Forster Tuncurry Hawks (Group 3 Rugby League)
- 1996 Werris Creek (Group 4 Rugby League)
- 1997 Eden (Group 16 Rugby League)
- 1998 Cobar (Group 11 Rugby League)
- 1999 Barellan (Group 17 Rugby League)
- 2000 Taree City (Group 3 Rugby League)
- 2001 Port Macquarie Sharks (Group 2 Rugby League)
- 2002 Barellan (Group 17 Rugby League)
- 2003 Narooma (Group 16 Rugby League)
- 2004 Temora (Group 9 Rugby League)
- 2005 Umina Beach Central Coast (Central Coast RL)
- 2006 Hillston Bluebirds (Group 17 Rugby League)
- 2007 Albion Park-Oak Flats (Group 7 Rugby League)
- 2008 The Entrance Tigers (Central Coast RL)
- 2009 Yenda (Group 20 Rugby League)
- 2010 Grafton Ghosts (Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League)
- 2011 Grafton Ghosts (Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League)
- 2012 Campbelltown Eagles (Group 6 Rugby League)
- 2013 Wauchope Blues (Group 3 Rugby League)
- 2014 North Tamworth Bears (Group 4 Rugby League)
- 2015 Port Macquarie Sharks (Group 2 Rugby League)
- 2016 Moruya Sharks (Group 16 Rugby League)
- 2017 Grafton Ghosts (Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League)
- 2018 Tweed Coast Raiders (Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League)
- 2019 North Tamworth Bears (Group 4 Rugby League)
1938 Nimmitabel Clayton Cup Winners
1947 Bombala Clayton Cup Winners
1970 Delegate RLFC Clayton Cup Winners
1970 Delegate Clayton Cup Blazer Ball
Back Row L to R. Ken Talbot, Brendon Crawford, Bill Nichol, Ken Callaughan , Eddie Sellers (Obscured)
2nd row. Dennis Callaway, Arthur Collins, David Manning, Barry Reed,
3rd Row. Garry Jones, John Callaughan, Blazer Presenter- Dennis Pittard (South Sydney)
4th row. Max Clear, Paul Clear – Caption Coach, Ron Collins
Missing from photo Mike Nixon, Tom Ventry and Colin Kirby
1976 Bombala Clayton Cup Winners
1988 Bega Roosters Clayton Cup Winners
Back Row L to R. John Sproates, Brett Deacon, Ray Ringland, Michael Driscoll, Andrew Campbell, Tom McCoy, Grant Dowdle, Stuart Smith, Bruce Collins.
Front Row L to R. Barry Grant, Greg Stevenson, Greg Motbey, Lloyd Martin Capt Coach, John Cooper, Peter Kennedy.
1997 Eden Tigers Clayton Cup Winners
2003 Narooma Devils RLFC Clayton Cup Winners
From Back Left: David Boyle (Capt-Coach), Ross Griffiths, Bill Wilson (obscured -Trainer), Brett Jessop, Adrian Foster, Des Siddons, Robert Kenny, Cameron Rowley, John Davis (obscured), Troy Beecham, Andrew Barry, Geoff Lecher (Strapper).
Front Row:Brad Mayberry, Gene Willis, Dave Hudson, Zeke Moreton, Grant Jessop (behind), Dane Terare, Drew Houston, Scott Laurie.
In front holding shield: Morgan Boyle (now playing NRL)
2016 Moruya Sharks Clayton Cup Winners
