1888 Southern Rugby Union season
| 1888 Sydney Rugby Premiership | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 16 June to 25 August |
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers | Sydney University (5th title) |
| Runners-up | Arfoma |
| Wooden spoon | Balmain Wellington (1st spoon) |
| Top point-scorer(s) | Albert Sefton (25) |
| Top try-scorer(s) | Albert Sefton (8) |
The 1888 Southern Rugby Football Union season was the 15th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. This was the sixth competition for the Gardiner Challenge Cup which was awarded to the winners of the premiership. The football season was from June till August 1888. The season culminated in the premiership, which was won by Sydney University who were crowned premiers who finished undefeated for the second year in a row. It was during 1888 that the first British Rugby team toured Australia and New Zealand playing two games against a NSW team. The intercolonial matches saw Queensland travel to Sydney to play two games against the home team.