The 2018 National Rugby Championship draw was released earlier today with a focus on regional grounds and grassroots footy.
The NRC will now include just the one Sydney-based club, with the Sydney Rays and Greater Sydney Rams merged into one streamlined side.
This has allowed for the return to the traditional Sydney versus Country rivalry.
The highly-anticipated clash will take place on September 19 at Leichhardt Oval as part of a broader push towards making the competition more accessible in all areas of New South Wales.
The new-look Sydney side will also play their home games at Woollahra Oval and Concord Oval while NSW Country will take the Championship to Mudgee, Armidale and Camden.
Two-time NRC champions Brisbane City have also opted to bring their home games closer to the community, with matches scheduled to be played in the iconic grounds surrounding Ballymore.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle, said this year’s draw presents fans across Australia with a great opportunity to embrace the grassroots aspect of the sport.
“Being accessible to the community is the key to the success of the NRC and it is great to see many teams take the initiative to spread their home matches around and give more fans the opportunity to watch some quality Rugby in their own communities,” she said.
The Western Force will also play their inaugural season in the NRC in 2018 after their strong World Series Rugby campaign. They replace Perth Spirit as the new ambassadors for Western Australia.
Fans will be treated to a grand final replay in the opening round of the 2018 NRC when defending champions Queensland Country take on the Canberra Vikings.
The competition officially kicks off with the Fiji Drua hosting Melbourne Rising at Ratu Cakobau Park on Saturday, September 1.
The semi-finals start on Saturday, October 20 while the grand final will be played the following week on October 27.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
NSW have finally realised that they are not that much better than the other states. THey never were good enough to field four or even three teams.
Bakkies
Guest
Nah Cameron you paid off Rebels' directors so they could be sold to the VRU for a dollar. Than the VRU come out with a logo similar to the RA's. Same túrd different brush.
Bakkies
Guest
Rubbish Cameron it is on public record.
Bakkies
Guest
Round and round we go. I thought you knew your annual reports Cameron.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah, but not as good looking.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
John R, Yeah. The SA equivalent of the Axemen.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Well, Newsome is from Glen Innes so he is from the country so it would be a natural fit for him. One from 3 isn't terrible.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
I omitted a quote of Heenan saying that “Obviously NRC is a development pathway for the Reds ...” and there was no point in picking Cooper and Hunt accordingly. Sounds like Heenan is worried about upsetting the powers that be, in QRU. Otherwise why would he care that it’s a Reds “development pathway”?
JP
Guest
With Hunt and QC on board Souths will be most likely top the table and be favourites for the Grand Final now . They also get back Caleb Timu. Lukhan Tui, Eto Nabuli and CFS ( injured ) after the Reds season is done next Friday.
John R
Roar Guru
Black Falcons are akin to the Victorian Axemen yeah?
Val Saunders
Guest
Now Hunt is going to play for Souths (but will be ineligible for the finals) from the bench this weekend. Just suppose he plays well over the next four weeks, indeed like the international he is. Suppose Souths win the final and Cooper is man of the match, quite likely! So Heenan will not pick them - even then! For a start why on earth would you prepare without them, especially Cooper who according to all I read is not going anywhere. Its not even as if Heenan's side won the competition last year. If the NRC squad is not picked on form in club rugby what is it picked on? What benefit is there picking a No10 who may never make it in Super Rugby - how many NRC players got a Super Rugby contract last year? If Heenan has a problem with say Cooper now is the time to sort it out and if this requires a change by Cooper at least give him the chance. No wonder Oz rugby and Qld rugby is a mess!!
Boomeranga
Guest
Simply because I want him to play for the eagles.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah John. According to Bakkies it's ok to make offensive and baseless claims if you dislike somebody.
John R
Roar Guru
Stop the presses.
John R
Roar Guru
Oh great, more new McCarthyism
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Was supposed to happen last year but SA pulled out a week before the game.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Would be good to see them include games between a Dewar Shield club select side and the likes of the SA Black Falcon's in the future.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Jake Gordon grew up in Newtown. How the hell isn't he from Sydney?
Dave_S
Guest
From rugby.com.au "It's understood the QRU will not stand in Heenan's way if he does elect to pick either Hunt or Cooper, as that would go against the policy employed in previous years, where Reds coaches have left NRC bosses to select their teams as they see fit. Despite that, Heenan said the pair are not currently part of the plan for the upcoming season. "We're preparing as though we will be without them," he said. "But they’re both good players and we will have to just wait and see."" Sounds like no-one even knows which hymn book they're singing from ...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not for the NRC though I don't think. The current games I understand are produced by somebody and then given to FTA and Foxtel. But the NRC are owned and produced by Foxtel.