[1] The SA Rugby Union was established in 1932 after journalist Ian Sabey, from The Advertiser, convened a public meeting.

Interest in the sport grew, and by the end of that year, the Royal Australian Navy, Adelaide University and the Waratahs were ready to field teams in a local competition.

Rugby in the Adelaide area grew quickly and within a year, South Australia had fielded a team against Victoria for its first interstate match.

In the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, the South Australian representative team competed in the Southern States Carnivals against Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

In 1999, SA Rugby again took on corporate change and release its Incorporated Association status and become a Company Limited by Guarantee, further underlining its commercial strength.

[5] The South Australian Under 20 team competes in the Southern States Championship and also plays occasional matches against other representative sides.

From 2018 Black Falcons compete into Emerging States Championship and in 2019 also a second developing team, South Australia Under 23.