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The teams are locked in, the games are locked in, now we just wait. The 2016 National Rugby Championship will feature expanded broadcast coverage on Fox Sports as we reported last month, as well as one less team, meaning no byes.
All television games will now kick off at 3pm on both days of the weekend.
Brisbane City, Canberra Vikings, Melbourne Rising, Perth Spirit, Queensland Country, Sydney Rays, Western Sydney Rams and the NSW Country Eagles will contest the championship, with the Sydney University-based Sydney Stars announced to be leaving the competition earlier this year, merging with the Country Eagles.
With two months to go before the competition kicks off, Ben Whitaker, the ARU’s General Manager of High Performance said:
“We’re all looking forward immensely to the new National Rugby Championship season. We’re already seeing its benefits have been far-reaching. At a grass-roots level, we’ve had players earning professional contracts out of their NRC performances. At the same time, players knocking on the door of international selection have been able to maintain their match fitness as they look to persuade the Wallabies national coach that they are ready for international selection.
“We’re confident that with the confirmation of eight teams, and the learning off the back of the first two seasons the overall quality of the National Rugby Championship product will improve in 2016 as the competition will be stronger and more competitive.”
“Last year there were on average more than nine tries scored per match, and with the 2016 games being played mostly on weekend afternoons at a variety of regional and metropolitan grounds, more fans than ever before will have a chance to enjoy the thrill of the NRC.”
Those regional metropolitan grounds include Tamworth, Orange, Frankston, Toowoomba, on top of the major centres.
There has also been an adjustment in the scoring system, with all goals now worth two points, and tries worth six. Last year tries were worth five, conversions three and all other goals worth two.
What do you think Roarers? What do you make of the revamped draw and rules?
2016 NRC games broadcast on Fox Sports (all games kick off at 3pm)
Round 1, Sat 27 August – NSW Country Eagles v Brisbane City, Sydney University
Round 1, Sun 28 August – Queensland Country v Canberra Vikings, Bond University
Round 2, Sat 3 September – Brisbane City v Western Sydney Rams, Ballymore Stadium
Round 2, Sun 4 September – Canberra Vikings v NSW Country Eagles, Viking Park
Round 3, Sat 10 Sep – Queensland Country v Sydney Rays, Bond University, Gold Coast
Round 3, Sun 11 Sep – NSW Country Eagles v Melbourne Rising, Tamworth
Round 4, Sat 17 Sep – Melbourne Rising v Brisbane City, Harlequin Oval
Round 4, Sun 18 Sep – Perth Spirit v Queensland Country, UWA Sports Park
Round 5, Sat 24 Sep – NSW Country Eagles v Perth Spirit, Endeavour Oval, Orange
Round 5, Sun 25 Sep – Brisbane City v Sydney Rays, Ballymore Stadium
Round 6, Sat 1 Oct – Sydney Rays v Canberra Vikings, Pittwater Rugby Park
Round 6, Sun 2 Oct – Melbourne Rising v Western Sydney Rams, Harlequins Oval
Round 7, Sat 8 Oct – Western Sydney Rams v NSW Country Eagles, Concord Oval
Round 7, Sun 9 Oct – Brisbane City v Queensland Country, Ballymore Stadium
Semi-Finals – to be played 15 and 16 October
Grand Final – to be played weekend of 22 October
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.