The ARU has announced a brand new domestic rugby competition to commence in 2014.
The National Rugby Championship will air on Fox Sports, with one live match per round, plus live semi-finals and final.
In terms of team locations and number of teams between eight-and-ten teams from the five Australian Super Rugby club homes of Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney will be included, plus other ‘major population centre’ locations.
The ARU have indicated that the following factors will determine club viability and ultimate inclusion in the new competition: finances; professional staffing; commitment to player development; venues; links to Super Rugby and fan base.
The announcement from the ARU follows below:
“This is a major vote of confidence in Australian rugby. This competition, which will include 8-10 teams from major population centres from across Australia, will also offer the opportunity to introduce innovative rules to the game to improve the spectacle for our fans,” said Mr Pulver.
“The National Rugby Championship will run annually at the end of Super Rugby and club rugby seasons from August to October as a way of complementing existing competitions such as the important Premier Rugby competitions in Sydney and Queensland.
“It will also be self-funded thanks to the support of Fox Sports and Foxtel.
“This new competition will be a tremendous opportunity for rugby fans to support teams from across the country in a local competition that we hope will rival New Zealand’s ITM Cup and South Africa’s Currie Cup at a time of year when there is little local rugby being played.
“I’d like to acknowledge the support shown by stakeholders and club competitions across the country, particularly in Sydney and Queensland, where Premier Rugby competitions are working to schedule their seasons to avoid any scheduling clashes with the National Rugby Championship.
“We will continue to work with stakeholders at all levels of rugby, including at club level, to further improve the vital role they play to create elite players.”
Australian Rugby Union has set up the National Rugby Championship Commission to establish the competition.
The Commission includes representatives from Australian Rugby Union, the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA), Super Rugby, Fox Sports and Foxtel. It is chaired by independent sports consultant, John Boultbee AM, who has worked extensively in Australian and international sport including rowing, soccer and at the Australian Institute of Sport.
The announcement of the new competition has been welcomed by RUPA, which has strongly advocated for Australian rugby to improve the elite player development pathway.
RUPA CEO Greg Harris said RUPA is pleased to have played a key role in the inception of the National Rugby Championship.
“In 2007, 98% of our members said there was a missing link in the transition from club level to Super Rugby so we’re very excited and optimistic about the long-term benefits that a high-level, national competition can deliver to the game competitively and commercially.
“This new competition will give all non-Wallaby Super Rugby players an opportunity to continue to develop their skills in elite match conditions and will provide an opportunity for an additional 150 players to experience rugby in a semi-professional environment.”
Expressions of interest are now being sought from existing clubs wanting to compete in their own right, clubs wanting form a syndicate with other organisations such as universities or individuals who would like to apply for a place in the competition.
Expressions of Interest close on 13 January 2014, which will be followed by a formal tendering process, with successful teams expected to be announced by the end of February 2014.
Successful teams will be selected based on a number of criteria including: financial performance; professional team staffing structure and environment; commitment to player development; venue facilities; links to Super Rugby clubs; and current or potential fan base.
30 mm Tags
Guest
Spot on ,Westie. Australian Rugby has always been ahead of the IRB re innovation. When I was a boy the Australian Dispensation rule of bringing back the lineout to the line from where it was kicked, unless it was kicked from within the 25 yd line was how we played it. IRB required the test matches to be compliant with their IRB rules but allowed games within Australia to have this variation. Innovation is what Bill Pulver is about . Rugby is meant to be entertainment and a pleasure to watch and play.
Jockosaurus
Guest
Few details as to how the teams will be chosen. I can see disgruntled bidders ending up in court...
In Brief
Guest
While I get your point, rugby doesn't have the luxury of NRL and AFL of making things up as we go, I wouldn't be suprised if Pulver has one ear to the ground. The head of the IRB is an Australian who has a very similar outlook on rugby to Pulver. In the same way the ARC is being resurrected, the laws of rugby will be simplifed sooner or later. . (I won't mention the ELVs as the majority of them have been adopted already).. This is required as the game seeks to expand to new markets. Currently there are too many grey areas and while great games do occur, they require two teams of a similar mindset and a referee willing to 'let the game flow'. In the next few years I believe we will see the removal of a number of penalty offences. It will save the IRB a lot of money and time if they can use the NRC as a testing ground for this as is currently occurring in South Africa.
Anto
Guest
GPS a must in Brisbane. Has the largest junior club in the Southern Hemisphere.
Adam Smith
Guest
This is the best news I've read all year. I seriously can't get enough of Rugby, I'm constantly looking at overseas tournaments and Youtube videos for more. I think this will take off in a big way considering we now know how easily it can be taken away from us.
Adam Smith
Guest
I agree! We absolutely need a team representing western Sydney.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
BRING BACK THE RAMS!!! If they do this I will be attending each and every home game with my brothers and by then 2 year old niece (start'em young). There's four guaranteed bums in seats right there.
JB
Guest
Good to see some money thrown down the chain, it will need to be sustainable though which will have to mean crowds. Would love to see rugby players back in schools promoting the game, rugby has been begging for some grass roots investment for 15 years.
Football United
Guest
you have a whole market of players who are not in the national team looking for something to do with their lives after super rugby, plus there is plenty of players at state level who could make the step up as well as the international player market, yeah it's not hard.
Westie
Guest
Finding new players is easy huh? The arc under the elv's was miles better than super rugby.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Must have a team in Western Sydney. Agree bring back the Rams and play out of Parramatta ( Pirtek ) & Penrith ( CUA ) Stadiums.
Football United
Guest
"will also offer the opportunity to introduce innovative rules to the game to improve the spectacle for our fans" This happens and it becomes a farce. This isn't some minor one country game like AFL, The IRB are the only ones who should set the rules to enforce consistency and everyone in the world is fine with them except a few Australians. While it is positive to see at least SOMETHING happen, I'm not a fan of this concept tbh. It just provides another layer of plastic franchises and consortiums rather than really address the problems we have with the development structure and fan interest. Finding new players is easy and all well and good but we now need to find a whole new bunch of coaches, Administration staff, support staff, sponsors and fans to actually make the thing work. We should be merging our resources into a single tier, that is taking our super rugby teams and expanding that into a real national league with the european module.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
....and the Central Coast Rays, as the defending CHAMPIONS!!
gurudoright
Guest
Bring back the Western Sydney Rams. same colours, same uniform, same home ground