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{{Short description|Australian national rugby union competition}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby league football competition
{{Infobox tournament
| name = National Rugby Championship (NRC)
| name = National Rugby Championship
| image = National Rugby Championship logo 2017.png
| seasontag = Last season <!-- change the value when the season has started (but retain this comment) -->
| image_size = 150px
| logo = National Rugby Championship logo 2017.png
| sport = [[Rugby union]]
| pixels = 190px
| established = [[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]]
| alt =
| sport = [[Rugby union]]
| final_year = [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]]
| teams = [[Rugby Australia|Australia]] (7 teams)<br>[[Fiji Rugby Union|Fiji]] (1 team)
| formerly =
| stat1_label = Final champion
| founded =
| stat2_label = Most titles
| inaugural = [[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]]
| stat1 = [[Western Force]]<br />(2019; 1st title)
| folded = [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]]
| stat2 = [[Brisbane City (rugby team)|Brisbane City]]<br />(2 titles)
| replaced =
| ceotag =
| ceo =
| teams = 8
| countrytag =
| country = [[Australia]] (7 teams)<br>[[Fiji]] (1 team)
| gov_body =
| championtag = Champions
| champion = [[Western Force]]
| season = [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]]
| most_champs = [[Brisbane City (rugby team)|Brisbane City]]
| count = 2
| website = [http://www.rugby.com.au/competitions/nrc rugby.com.au/competitions/nrc]
| | qualification =
| related_comps =
<div>
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Horan-Little Shield]]
* {{flagicon|Victoria}} [[Dewar Shield]]
* {{flagicon|Australian Capital Territory}} [[John I Dent Cup]]
* {{flagicon|South Australia}} [[South Australian Rugby Union|SARU Premier Grade]]
* {{nowrap|{{flagicon|Queensland}} [[Queensland Premier Rugby]]}}
* {{flagicon|Western Australia}} [[RugbyWA|RugbyWA Premier Grade]]
* {{flagicon|New South Wales}} [[Shute Shield]]
* {{flagicon|FJI}} [[Skipper Cup]]
</div>
}}
}}
[[File:Buildcorp NRC Competition Launch with Buildcorp MD Tony Sukkar and team captains.jpg|thumb|263px|Competition launch in 2014.]]
The '''National Rugby Championship''', known as '''NRC''', was an Australian [[rugby union]] competition. It was contested by eight teams, seven from Australia and one from [[Fiji]]. The tournament ran from 2014 until 2019 before being disbanded in 2020 following the change of the Australian rugby TV broadcasting deal from [[Fox Sports]], who had funded the competition, to [[Stan Sport]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/08/12/national-club-championship-2021-nrc|title=National Club Championship concept to be \"inclusive\"|work=Rugby.com.au|date=12 August 2020|access-date=31 March 2021}}</ref> The 2020 competition was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418268/sport-nrc-cancellation-a-blow-for-fijian-drua-rugby-team|title=Sport: NRC cancellation a blow for Fijian Drua rugby team|work=RNZ|date=4 June 2020|access-date=31 March 2021}}</ref>


{{anchor|Trophy}} [[File:National Rugby Championship Trophy.jpg|thumb|upright=0.5|NRC trophy]]
The '''National Rugby Championship''', known as '''NRC''', was an Australian national [[rugby union]] competition. It was contested by eight teams — seven from Australia and one from [[Fiji]].


== Format ==
== Format ==
The National Rugby Championship was usually held between late August and early November. A [[round-robin tournament]] was scheduled first where each team played all others once. The top four teams progressed to the championship playoffs consisting of two semi-final knockout matches and a grand final to determine the champion team and winner of the NRC Trophy, nicknamed 'The Toast Rack'.
{{anchor|Trophy}}
The National Rugby Championship was usually held in the period between late August and early November. A [[round-robin tournament]] was scheduled first where each team plays all others once. The top four teams progress to the championship playoffs consisting of two semi-final knockout matches and a grand final to determine the champion team and winner of the NRC Trophy.


During the round-robin section of the tournament, teams would also play for the [[Horan-Little Shield]], a challenge trophy put on the line by the holders when a challenge match was accepted or mandated according to the Shield rules.
[[File:National Rugby Championship Trophy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|NRC winner's trophy, nicknamed 'The Toast Rack'.]]

During the round-robin section of the tournament, teams can also play for the [[Horan-Little Shield]], a challenge trophy that is put on the line by the holders when a challenge match is accepted or mandated according to the Shield rules.


== Teams ==
== Teams ==
The National Rugby Championship had eight teams competing in its final season - [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019 season]]:
The teams that competed in the National Rugby Championship were.

{{Location map+ |Australia |width=500 |float=left |caption=Teams in the '''2019 National Rugby Championship'''  ([[Fijian Drua]] not shown on map).
|places=
{{Location map~ |Australia |lat=-27.441944 |long=153.017778 |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=top |label=[[Brisbane City|Brisbane]]}}
{{Location map~ |Australia |lat=-28.070322 |long=153.417774 |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=left |label= {{nowrap|[[Queensland Country (NRC team)|Queensland Country]]}} }}
{{Location map~ |Australia |lat=-37.825278 |long=144.983889 |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=bottom |label=
[[Melbourne Rising|Melbourne]] }}
{{Location map~ |Australia |lat=-32.582554 |long=149.582933 |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=left |label=
{{nowrap|[[New South Wales Country Eagles|NSW Country]]}} }}
{{Location map~ |Australia |lat=-33.760000 |long=151.273333 |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=right |label=[[Sydney (NRC team)|Sydney]] }}
{{Location map~ |Australia |lat=-35.405278 |long=149.095556 |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=bottom |label=[[Canberra Vikings|Canberra]] }}
{{Location map~ |Australia |lat=-31.945833 |long=115.870000 |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=bottom |label={{nowrap|[[Western Force]]}} }}
<!-- suppress from map
{{Location map~ |Australia |lat=-18.1416 |long=178.4419 |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=bottom |label=[[Fijian Drua]] }} -->
}}
[[File:Buildcorp NRC Competition Launch with Buildcorp MD Tony Sukkar and team captains.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|NRC Competition Launch in 2014 with Buildcorp MD Tony Sukkar and players from all teams.]]
{{clear|left}}
The teams for the [[2019 National Rugby Championship]] were.
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!Region
!width=13em| Team{{pad|9em}}
!style="width:13em;text-align:left;"| Team
!style="width:5em;"| Seasons
! Licencees / associated teams
! Licencees / associated teams
! Region
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]]
|[[Brisbane City (rugby team)|Brisbane City]]
|{{flagicon|Australian Capital Territory}} [[Canberra Vikings]]{{efn|Known as University of Canberra Vikings from 2014–2016}}
|[[Queensland Rugby Union]] / [[Queensland Reds|Reds]]
|2014–2019
|{{flag|Queensland}}
|[[ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union|ACT and Southern NSW Rugby]] / [[Brumbies]], [[Tuggeranong Vikings]]
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Fiji]]
|[[Canberra Vikings]] <br/> <small>(known as University of Canberra Vikings from 2014–2016)</small>
|{{flagicon|Fiji}} [[Fijian Drua]]
|[[ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union]] <br/> / [[Brumbies]], [[Tuggeranong Vikings]]
|2017–2019
|{{flag|Australian Capital Territory}}
|-
|[[Fijian Drua]]
|[[Fiji Rugby Union]]
|[[Fiji Rugby Union]]
|{{flag|Fiji}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[New South Wales|NSW]]
|[[Melbourne Rising]]
|{{flagicon|New South Wales}} [[Greater Sydney Rams]]{{efn|Known as the Western Sydney Rams for 2016.}}
|[[Victorian Rugby Union]] / [[Melbourne Rebels|Rebels]]
|2014–2017
|{{flag|Victoria}}
|[[New South Wales Rugby Union|New South Wales Rugby]] / [[Eastwood Rugby Club|Eastwood]], [[Western Sydney Two Blues|Parramatta]], [[Penrith Emus Rugby|Penrith]], [[Southern Districts Rugby Club|Southern Districts]], [[West Harbour RFC|West Harbour]]
|-
|-
|[[New South Wales Country Eagles|NSW Country Eagles]]
|style="text-align:center;"|[[New South Wales|NSW]]
|[[New South Wales Country Rugby Union|NSW Country Rugby Union]] / [[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
|{{flagicon|New South Wales}} [[New South Wales Country Eagles|NSW Country Eagles]]
|2014–2019
|{{flag|New South Wales}}
|[[New South Wales Country Rugby Union|NSW Country Rugby]] / [[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]],{{efn|Sydney University, previously with [[Sydney Stars]] before their licence was cancelled, formed a partnership with NSW Country Eagles in 2016.<ref name = dt-feb-2016/>}} [[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[New South Wales|NSW]]
|[[Queensland Country (NRC team)|Queensland Country]]
|{{flagicon|New South Wales}} [[Sydney (NRC team)|Sydney]]{{efn|Known as North Harbour Rays from 2014–2015 and Sydney Rays from 2016–2018.}}
|[[Queensland Rugby Union]] / [[Queensland Reds|Reds]]
|2014–2019
|{{flag|Queensland}}
|[[New South Wales Rugby Union|New South Wales Rugby]] / [[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[New South Wales|NSW]]
|[[Sydney (NRC team)|Sydney]] <br/> <small>(known as North Harbour Rays from 2014–2015 and Sydney Rays from 2016–2018)</small>
|[[New South Wales Rugby Union]] / [[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
|{{flagicon|New South Wales}} [[Sydney Stars]]
|2014–2015
|{{flag|New South Wales}}
|[[New South Wales Rugby Union|New South Wales Rugby]] / [[Balmain RFC|Balmain]], [[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]]
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Queensland|QLD]]
|[[Western Force]]
|{{flagicon|Queensland}} [[Brisbane City (rugby team)|Brisbane City]]
|[[RugbyWA]] / [[Western Force|Force]]
|2014–2019
|{{flag|Western Australia}}
|[[Queensland Rugby Union|Queensland Rugby ]] / [[Queensland Reds|Reds]]
|}

'''Former teams'''
The other teams that competed in the competition between 2014 and 2019 were:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Queensland|QLD]]
!width=13em| Team{{pad|9em}}
|{{flagicon|Queensland}} [[Queensland Country (NRC team)|Queensland Country]]
! Dates
|2014–2019
! Licencees / associated teams
|[[Queensland Rugby Union|Queensland Rugby]] / [[Queensland Reds|Reds]]
! Region
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
|[[Greater Sydney Rams]] <br/> <small>(known as Western Sydney Rams for 2016)</small>
|{{flagicon|Victoria}} [[Melbourne Rising]]
|2014–2017
|2014–2019
|[[New South Wales Rugby Union]] / [[Eastwood Rugby Club|Eastwood]], [[Western Sydney Two Blues|Parramatta]], [[Penrith Emus Rugby|Penrith]], [[Southern Districts Rugby Club|Southern Districts]], [[West Harbour RFC|West Harbour]]
|[[Rugby Victoria]] / [[Melbourne Rebels|Rebels]]
|{{flag|New South Wales}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Western Australia|WA]]
|[[Perth Spirit]]
|{{flagicon|Western Australia}} [[Perth Spirit]]
|2014–2017
|2014–2017
|[[RugbyWA]] / [[Western Force|Force]]
|[[RugbyWA]] / [[Western Force|Force]]
|{{flag|Western Australia}}
|-
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Western Australia|WA]]
|[[Sydney Stars]]
|{{flagicon|Western Australia}} [[Western Force]]
|2014–2015
|2018–2019
|[[New South Wales Rugby Union]] / [[Balmain RFC|Balmain]], [[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]]
|[[RugbyWA]] / [[Western Force|Force]]
|{{flag|New South Wales}}
|}
|}
<!--
'''Notes:'''
<div style="line-height:1.2em; margin-left:1.7em; font-size:88%;">


;Notes
{{note|eagles| a}} Sydney University, previously with [[Sydney Stars]] before their licence was cancelled, formed a partnership with NSW Country Eagles in 2016.<ref name = dt-feb-2016/>
{{notelist}}
</div> -->


==Television coverage and streaming==
==Television coverage and streaming==
Two of the NRC matches each weekend are broadcast live via [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]], with the remaining matches shown on the Fox Sports streaming platform.<ref name=draw-release-2017/> Discussion of the NRC competition is included on Fox Sports' review show NRC Extra Time on Monday nights, and the Kick & Chase program on Tuesday evenings.
Two of the NRC matches each weekend were broadcast live via [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]], with the remaining matches shown on the Fox Sports streaming platform.<ref name=draw-release-2017/> Discussion of the NRC competition was included on Fox Sports' review show NRC Extra Time on Monday nights, and the Kick & Chase program on Tuesday evenings.


=={{anchor|Trophy}} History==
=={{anchor|Trophy}} History==
Line 159: Line 113:
Australia's [[Super Rugby]] players participate in the NRC under a capped allocation to ensure that all NRC teams have a mix of players from local development squads and club competitions, as well as those with Super Rugby experience. [[Australia national rugby union team|Australian national team]] players are required for [[Test match (rugby union)|Test match rugby]] during the NRC season, but each player is allocated to one of the NRC teams and is able to play if released from national duty.
Australia's [[Super Rugby]] players participate in the NRC under a capped allocation to ensure that all NRC teams have a mix of players from local development squads and club competitions, as well as those with Super Rugby experience. [[Australia national rugby union team|Australian national team]] players are required for [[Test match (rugby union)|Test match rugby]] during the NRC season, but each player is allocated to one of the NRC teams and is able to play if released from national duty.


== Champions ==
==Seasons==
===Results===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" width="70%"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:%; font-size:%;"
! width="3%" |Season
! width="15%" |Premiers
! width="5%" |Score
! width="15%" |Runners-up
! width="10%" |Referee(s)
! width="15%" |Venue
! width="7%" |Attendance
! width="10%" |Date
|-
|-
!rowspan=2|Ed.
! colspan="7" |National Rugby Championship
!rowspan=2 style="width:5%;"| Year
!
!colspan=3| Final
!colspan=2 style="border-bottom:1px solid transparent;"| Semi-finalists
!rowspan=2 style="width:5%;"| {{tooltip|No.<br>teams|Number of teams}}
|-
|-
!style="width:%;"| Winner
|[[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]]
!style="width:%;"| Score / Venue
|align=right|Brisbane City {{Flagicon|Queensland}}
!style="width:%;"| Runner-up
|'''37–26'''
!style="width:%; border-right:1px solid transparent;"|
|align=left|{{Flagicon|Western Australia}} Perth Spirit
!style="width:%; border-left:1px solid transparent;"|
|R. Hoffmann
|[[Ballymore Stadium]]
|7,889
|1 November 2014
|-
|-
|[[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]]
| 1 || [[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]]
|{{flagdeco|Queensland|size=30px}}<br> '''[[Brisbane City (rugby union)|Brisbane City]]'''
|align=right|Brisbane City {{Flagicon|Queensland}}
|'''37–26'''<br>{{small|[[Ballymore Stadium]]}}
|'''21–10'''
|{{flagdeco|Western Australia|size=30px}}<br>[[Perth Spirit]]
|align=left|{{Flagicon|Australian Capital Territory}} Canberra Vikings
|{{flagdeco|New South Wales|size=30px}}<br>[[NSW Country Eagles]]
|A. Lees
|{{flagdeco|Victoria|size=30px}}<br>[[Melbourne Rising]]
|[[Ballymore Stadium]]
|9
|4,327
|31 October 2015
|-
|-
|[[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]]
| 2 || [[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]]
|{{flagdeco|Queensland|size=30px}}<br>'''[[Brisbane City (rugby union)|Brisbane City]]'''
|align=right|Perth Spirit {{Flagicon|Western Australia}}
|'''21–10'''<br>{{small|Ballymore Stadium}}
|'''20–16'''
|{{flagdeco|Australian Capital Territory|size=30px}}<br>[[Canberra Vikings]]
|align=left|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} NSW Country Eagles
|{{flagdeco|Victoria|size=30px}}<br>[[Melbourne Rising]]
|N. Berry
|[[Tamworth, New South Wales|Scully Park]]
|{{flagdeco|New South Wales|size=30px}}<br>[[Sydney Stars]]
|9
|2,000
|22 October 2016
|-
|-
|[[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]]
| 3 || [[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]]
|{{flagdeco|Western Australia|size=30px}}<br>'''[[Perth Spirit]]'''
|align=right|Queensland Country {{Flagicon|Queensland}}
|'''20–16'''<br>{{small|[[Scully Park]]}}
|'''42–28'''
|{{flagdeco|New South Wales|size=30px}}<br>[[NSW Country Eagles]]
|align=left|{{Flagicon|Australian Capital Territory}} Canberra Vikings
|{{flagdeco|Victoria|size=30px}}<br>[[Melbourne Rising]]
|W. Houston
|{{flagdeco|New South Wales|size=30px}}<br>[[Sydney (NRC team)|Sydney Rays]]
|[[Viking Park]]
|8
|4,000
|11 November 2017
|-
|-
|[[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]]
|4 || [[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]]
|{{flagdeco|Queensland|size=30px}}<br>'''[[Queensland Country (NRC team)|Queensland Country]]'''
|align=right|Fijian Drua {{Flagicon|Fiji}}
|'''42–28'''<br>{{small|[[Viking Park]]}}
|'''36–26'''
|{{flagdeco|Australian Capital Territory|size=30px}}<br>[[Canberra Vikings]]
|align=left|{{Flagicon|Queensland}} Queensland Country
|{{flagdeco|Western Australia|size=30px}}<br>[[Perth Spirit]]
|N. Berry
|{{flagdeco|Fiji|size=30px}}<br>[[Fijian Drua]]
|[[Churchill Park (Lautoka)|Churchill Park]]
|9
|6,000
|27 October 2018
|-
|-
|[[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]]
|5 || [[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]]
|{{flagdeco|Fiji|size=30px}}<br>'''[[Fijian Drua]]'''
|align=right|Western Force {{Flagicon|Western Australia}}
|'''36–26'''<br>{{small|[[Churchill Park, Lautoka|Churchill Park]]}}
|'''41–3'''
|{{flagdeco|Queensland|size=30px}}<br>[[Queensland Country (NRC team)|Queensland Country]]
|align=left|{{Flagicon|Australian Capital Territory}} Canberra Vikings
|{{flagdeco|Australian Capital Territory|size=30px}}<br>[[Canberra Vikings]]
|D. Murphy
|{{flagdeco|Western Australia|size=30px}}<br>[[Western Force]]
|[[UWA Sports Park|UWA Rugby Park]]
|8
|6,500
|26 October 2019
|-
|-
| 6 || [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]]
|2020
|{{flagdeco|Western Australia|size=30px}}<br>'''[[Western Force]]'''
|colspan="7"|Cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]]
|'''41–3'''<br>{{small|[[UWA Sports Park]]}}
|{{flagdeco|Australian Capital Territory|size=30px}}<br>[[Canberra Vikings]]
|{{flagdeco|Queensland|size=30px}}<br>[[Brisbane City (rugby union)|Brisbane City]]
|{{flagdeco|Fiji|size=30px}}<br>[[Fijian Drua]]
|8
|-
| – || 2020
|colspan=5 {{N/A|''Cancelled due to [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#Rugby union|impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic]].''}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418268/sport-nrc-cancellation-a-blow-for-fijian-drua-rugby-team |title=Sport: NRC cancellation a blow for Fijian Drua rugby team |last= |first= |date=4 June 2020 |website=rnz.co.nz |publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date= |quote= }}</ref>
|8
|}
|}


=== Team Performance ===
===Results summary===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
!Team
!width="250"|Team
!width="170" style=background:#FFD700| Champion
!Winners
!width="170" style=background:#C0C0C0| Runner-up
!Runners-up
!width="170"| Semi-finalist
!Years won
!Years runner-up
|-
|-
|{{Flagicon|Queensland}} [[Brisbane City (rugby union)|Brisbane City]]
|{{flagdeco|Queensland}} [[Brisbane City (rugby union)|Brisbane City]]
|style=background:#FFD700|2 ([[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]], [[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]])
|2
|{{N/A}}
|0
|1 ([[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]])
|2014, 2015
|–
|-
|-
|{{Flagicon|Western Australia}} [[Perth Spirit]]
|{{flagdeco|Western Australia}} [[Perth Spirit]]
|style=background:#FFD700|1 ([[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]])
|1
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]])
|1
|1 ([[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]])
|2016
|2014
|-
|-
|{{Flagicon|Queensland}} [[Queensland Country (NRC team)|Queensland Country]]
|{{flagdeco|Queensland}} [[Queensland Country (NRC team)|Queensland Country]]
|style=background:#FFD700|1 ([[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]])
|1
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]])
|1
|{{N/A}}
|2017
|2018
|-
|-
|{{Flagicon|Fiji}} [[Fijian Drua]]
|{{flagdeco|Fiji}} [[Fijian Drua]]
|style=background:#FFD700|1 ([[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]])
|1
|style=background:#C0C0C0 {{N/A}}
|0
|2 ([[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]], [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]])
|2018
|–
|-
|-
|{{Flagicon|Western Australia}} [[Western Force]]
|{{flagdeco|Western Australia}} [[Western Force]]
|style=background:#FFD700|1 ([[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]])
|1
|style=background:#C0C0C0 {{N/A}}
|0
|1 ([[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]])
|2019
|–
|-
|-
|{{Flagicon|Australian Capital Territory}} [[Canberra Vikings]]
|{{flagdeco|Australian Capital Territory}} [[Canberra Vikings]]
|style=background:#FFD700 {{N/A}}
|0
|style=background:#C0C0C0|3 ([[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]], [[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]], [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]])
|3
|1 ([[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]])
|–
|2015, 2017, 2019
|-
|-
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} [[New South Wales Country Eagles|NSW Country Eagles]]
|{{flagdeco|New South Wales}} [[New South Wales Country Eagles|NSW Country Eagles]]
|style=background:#FFD700 {{N/A}}
|0
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]])
|1
|1 ([[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]])
|–
|2016
|}

=== Minor Premiers/Wooden Spoon ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! width="3%" |Season
! width="15%" |Minor Premier
! width="15%" |Wooden Spoon
|-
|-
|{{flagdeco|Victoria}} [[Melbourne Rising]]
! colspan="3" |National Rugby Championship
|style=background:#FFD700 {{N/A}}
|style=background:#C0C0C0 {{N/A}}
|3 ([[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]], [[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]], [[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]])
|-
|-
|{{flagdeco|New South Wales}} [[Sydney Stars]]
|[[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]]
|style=background:#FFD700 {{N/A}}
|{{Flagicon|Victoria}} Melbourne Rising
|style=background:#C0C0C0 {{N/A}}
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} Sydney Stars
|1 ([[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]])
|-
|-
|{{flagdeco|New South Wales}} [[Sydney (NRC team)|Sydney Rays]]
|[[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]]
|style=background:#FFD700 {{N/A}}
|{{Flagicon|Queensland}} Brisbane City
|style=background:#C0C0C0 {{N/A}}
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} Greater Sydney Rams
|1 ([[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]])
|-
|[[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]]
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} NSW Country Eagles
|{{Flagicon|Queensland}} Queensland Country
|-
|[[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]]
|{{Flagicon|Australian Capital Territory}} Canberra Vikings
|{{Flagicon|Victoria}} Melbourne Rising
|-
|[[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]]
|{{Flagicon|Fiji}} Fijian Drua
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} Sydney Rays
|-
|[[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]]
|{{Flagicon|Western Australia}} Western Force
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} Sydney (2)
|-
|2020
|
|
|}
|}


==== Team Performance ====
===Results summary by region===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
!width="250"|Region
!Team
!width="170" style=background:#FFD700| Champion
!Minor Premiers
!width="170" style=background:#C0C0C0| Runner-up
!Wooden Spoon
!width="170"| Semi-finalist
!Years Minor Premier
|-
!Years Wooden Spoon
|{{flag|Queensland}}
|style=background:#FFD700|3 ([[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]], [[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]], [[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]])
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]])
|1 ([[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]])
|-
|-
|{{flag|Western Australia}}
|{{Flagicon|Queensland}} [[Brisbane City (rugby union)|Brisbane City]]
|style=background:#FFD700|2 ([[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]], [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]])
|1
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]])
|0
|2 ([[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]], [[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]])
|2015
|–
|-
|-
|{{flag|Fiji}}
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} [[New South Wales Country Eagles|NSW Country Eagles]]
|style=background:#FFD700|1 ([[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]])
|1
|{{N/A}}
|0
|2 ([[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]], [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]])
|2016
|–
|-
|-
|{{Flagicon|Australian Capital Territory}} [[Canberra Vikings]]
|{{flag|Australian Capital Territory}}
|{{N/A}}
|1
|style=background:#C0C0C0|3 ([[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]], [[2017 National Rugby Championship|2017]], [[2019 National Rugby Championship|2019]])
|0
|1 ([[2018 National Rugby Championship|2018]])
|2017
|–
|-
|-
|{{flag|New South Wales}}
|{{Flagicon|Fiji}} [[Fijian Drua]]
|{{N/A}}
|1
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]])
|0
|3 ([[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]], [[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]], [[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]])
|2018
|–
|-
|-
|{{flag|Victoria}}
|{{Flagicon|Western Australia}} [[Western Force]]
|{{N/A}}
|1
|{{N/A}}
|0
|3 ([[2014 National Rugby Championship|2014]], [[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015]], [[2016 National Rugby Championship|2016]])
|2019
|–
|-
|{{Flagicon|Victoria}} [[Melbourne Rising]]
|1
|1
|2014
|2017
|-
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} [[Sydney Stars]]
|0
|1
|–
|2014
|-
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} [[Greater Sydney Rams]]
|0
|1
|–
|2015
|-
|{{Flagicon|Queensland}} [[Queensland Country (NRC team)|Queensland Country]]
|0
|1
|–
|2016
|-
|{{Flagicon|New South Wales}} [[Sydney (NRC team)|Sydney]]
|0
|2
|–
|2018, 2019
|}

== NRC Division 2 ==
An Emerging States Championship was formed in 2018 for representative teams from smaller rugby unions within Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/09/20/emerging-states-championships|title=South Australia claim Emerging States Championship|publisher=[[Rugby Australia]]|date=24 September 2018 |access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref> There had been no regular competition for these teams since the demise of [[Australian Rugby Shield]] a decade earlier. The new tournament was hosted by [[Rugby Union South Australia]] in Adelaide and featured the [[Adelaide Black Falcons|South Australia Black Falcons]], [[Rugby Victoria#Country Representative Team|Victoria Country Barbarians]], [[Rugby union in the Northern Territory#team|Northern Territory Mosquitoes]] and [[Tasmanian Rugby Union#team|Tasmania Jack Jumpers]]. The Black Falcons were the inaugural winners.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/nts-representative-rugby-team-has-finished-second-at-the-emerging-states-championships/news-story/bc32b0c99950113ec3746dcff7140959|title=The NT’s representative rugby team has finished second at the Emerging States Championships|publisher=Northern Territory News|author=Jack Hislop|date=26 September 2018 |access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref> The tournament was rebranded as NRC Division 2 for 2019, with eight representative teams invited:<ref>https://sa.rugby/news/2019/09/05/nrcii-tournament</ref>

{{col-float|firstcol=22em}}
* {{flagicon|NSW}} [[New South Wales Country Cockatoos]]
* {{flagicon|AU-NT}} [[Rugby union in the Northern Territory#team|Northern Territory Mosquitoes]]
* {{flagicon|AU-WA}} [[RugbyWA#Representative teams|Perth Gold]]
* {{flagicon|QLD}} [[Queensland Country Heelers]]
{{col-float-break|nextcol=22em}}
* {{flagicon|AU-SA}} [[Adelaide Black Falcons|South Australia Black Falcons]]
* {{flagicon|AU-SA}} [[Rugby Union South Australia#Representative teams|South Australian U23]]
* {{flagicon|TAS}} [[Tasmanian Rugby Union#team|Tasmania Jack Jumpers]]
* {{flagicon|VIC}} [[Rugby Victoria#Country Representative Team|Victoria Country Barbarians]]
{{col-float-end}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; width:100%; max-width:80em;"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:1.5em;"|Year
! scope="col" style="width:1.5em; padding:2px;"|Teams
! style="width:13.5em;"|Champion
! style="width:13.5em;"|Runner-up
! style="width:12em;"|Third
! style="width:11em;"|Fourth
|-
!style="padding:2px;"| [[2018 National Rugby Championship#Emerging States Championship|2018]]
! 4
| {{flagicon|AU-SA}}{{thinsp}}[[Adelaide Black Falcons|South Australia]]
| {{flagicon|TAS}}{{thinsp}}[[Tasmanian Rugby Union#team|Tasmania]]
| {{flagicon|AU-NT}}{{thinsp}}[[Rugby union in the Northern Territory#team|Northern Territory]]
| {{flagicon|VIC}}{{thinsp}}[[Rugby Victoria#Country team|Victoria Country]]
|-
!style="padding:2px;"| [[2019 National Rugby Championship#NRC Division 2|2019]]
! 7
| {{flagicon|AU-WA}}{{thinsp}}[[RugbyWA#Representative teams|Perth Gold]]
|style=padding-right:1px;"| {{flagicon|NSW}}{{thinsp}}{{replace|[[New South Wales Country Cockatoos|New South Wales Country]]| |&thinsp;}}
| {{flagicon|QLD}}{{thinsp}}[[Queensland Country Heelers|Queensland Country]]
| {{flagicon|AU-SA}}{{thinsp}}[[Adelaide Black Falcons|South Australia]]
|-
!style="padding:2px;"| 2020
|colspan="5"|Cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]]
|}
|}


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|url= http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/bill-pulver-releases-details-on-the-new-national-rugby-championship-which-kicks-off-in-august/story-e6frf4pu-1226863136030
|url= http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/bill-pulver-releases-details-on-the-new-national-rugby-championship-which-kicks-off-in-august/story-e6frf4pu-1226863136030
|url-status=dead
|url-status=dead
|archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/6OJpKR85J?url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/bill-pulver-releases-details-on-the-new-national-rugby-championship-which-kicks-off-in-august/story-e6frf4pu-1226863136030
|archive-url= https://archive.today/20140324022222/http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/bill-pulver-releases-details-on-the-new-national-rugby-championship-which-kicks-off-in-august/story-e6frf4pu-1226863136030
|archive-date= 24 March 2014}}
|archive-date= 24 March 2014}}
</ref> -->
</ref> -->
Line 570: Line 418:
|access-date= 4 June 2016
|access-date= 4 June 2016
|url-status= live
|url-status= live
|archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/6i0aPda70?url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/sydney-stars-victims-of-national-rugby-championship-consolidation/news-story/b84ac5034df985ee76321703fa3bab21?nk=f7bc71461b0a6e49d8be3ef13812fa14-1465025041
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160807141208/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/sydney-stars-victims-of-national-rugby-championship-consolidation/news-story/b84ac5034df985ee76321703fa3bab21?nk=f7bc71461b0a6e49d8be3ef13812fa14-1465025041
|archive-date= 4 June 2016}}
|archive-date= 7 August 2016}}
</ref>
</ref>


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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.rugby.com.au/competitions/nrc National Rugby Championship] official homepage
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20191014070247/https://www.rugby.com.au/competitions/nrc Official website] (archived)
* [http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/nrc NRC] on Fox Sports
* [http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/nrc NRC] on Fox Sports
* [https://twitter.com/NRC_Live NRC Live] on twitter.com
* {{twitter|id = NRC_Live|name = }}

=== Archives ===
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124001539/http://buildcorpnrc.com.au/|title=BuildcorpNRC|date=24 November 2015}}<!--
* [https://www.facebook.com/buildcorpnrc buildcorpnrc] on Facebook.com (2016)-->


=== Team webpages ===
=== Team webpages ===
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[[Category:2014 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:National rugby union premier leagues|Australia]]
[[Category:National rugby union premier leagues|Australia]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in Australia]]
[[Category:Defunct professional sports leagues in Australia]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Australia|National]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Australia|National]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 2014]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 2014]]
[[Category:Multi-national professional sports leagues]]
[[Category:Multi-national professional sports leagues]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2020]]

Latest revision as of 07:52, 10 July 2024

National Rugby Championship
Tournament information
SportRugby union
Established2014
Final year2019
TeamsAustralia (7 teams)
Fiji (1 team)
Tournament statistics
Final championWestern Force
(2019; 1st title)
Most titlesBrisbane City
(2 titles)
Competition launch in 2014.

The National Rugby Championship, known as NRC, was an Australian rugby union competition. It was contested by eight teams, seven from Australia and one from Fiji. The tournament ran from 2014 until 2019 before being disbanded in 2020 following the change of the Australian rugby TV broadcasting deal from Fox Sports, who had funded the competition, to Stan Sport.[1] The 2020 competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

NRC trophy

Format

[edit]

The National Rugby Championship was usually held between late August and early November. A round-robin tournament was scheduled first where each team played all others once. The top four teams progressed to the championship playoffs consisting of two semi-final knockout matches and a grand final to determine the champion team and winner of the NRC Trophy, nicknamed 'The Toast Rack'.

During the round-robin section of the tournament, teams would also play for the Horan-Little Shield, a challenge trophy put on the line by the holders when a challenge match was accepted or mandated according to the Shield rules.

Teams

[edit]

The teams that competed in the National Rugby Championship were.

Region Team Seasons Licencees / associated teams
ACT Australian Capital Territory Canberra Vikings[a] 2014–2019 ACT and Southern NSW Rugby / Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings
Fidschi Fidschi Fijian Drua 2017–2019 Fiji Rugby Union
NSW New South Wales Greater Sydney Rams[b] 2014–2017 New South Wales Rugby / Eastwood, Parramatta, Penrith, Southern Districts, West Harbour
NSW New South Wales NSW Country Eagles 2014–2019 NSW Country Rugby / Sydney University,[c] Waratahs
NSW New South Wales Sydney[d] 2014–2019 New South Wales Rugby / Waratahs
NSW New South Wales Sydney Stars 2014–2015 New South Wales Rugby / Balmain, Sydney University
QLD Queensland Brisbane City 2014–2019 Queensland Rugby / Reds
QLD Queensland Queensland Country 2014–2019 Queensland Rugby / Reds
VIC Victoria (state) Melbourne Rising 2014–2019 Rugby Victoria / Rebels
WA Western Australia Perth Spirit 2014–2017 RugbyWA / Force
WA Western Australia Western Force 2018–2019 RugbyWA / Force
Notes
  1. ^ Known as University of Canberra Vikings from 2014–2016
  2. ^ Known as the Western Sydney Rams for 2016.
  3. ^ Sydney University, previously with Sydney Stars before their licence was cancelled, formed a partnership with NSW Country Eagles in 2016.[3]
  4. ^ Known as North Harbour Rays from 2014–2015 and Sydney Rays from 2016–2018.

Television coverage and streaming

[edit]

Two of the NRC matches each weekend were broadcast live via Fox Sports, with the remaining matches shown on the Fox Sports streaming platform.[4] Discussion of the NRC competition was included on Fox Sports' review show NRC Extra Time on Monday nights, and the Kick & Chase program on Tuesday evenings.

History

[edit]
Buildcorp NRC logo used 2014–2016.

In December 2013, the ARU announced that Australia would get another tier of competition under Super Rugby in line with South Africa’s Currie Cup and New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup (then known as ITM Cup). Eleven bids were tendered from teams wanting to participate in the tournament, with nine being accepted.[5] Applicants that were not successful were advised that they could bid again as the competition matured, as early as 2015.[6]

The National Rugby Championship followed a previous national competition, the Australian Rugby Championship, that was abandoned after the first season in 2007 due to financial losses.[7][8]

The construction company Buildcorp was the inaugural naming rights sponsor for the NRC competition,[9] with other partners including Intercontinental Hotels, Qantas, and Allianz also signed.[10] ASICS was the official apparel supplier for the first two seasons. Matches were played under approved law variations,[11] intended to increase the speed of the game.[12]

A new broadcasting deal agreed in 2015 secured the funding and future of the competition until the end of the 2020 season.[13] The competition was reduced from nine teams to eight when the ARU did not renew the NRC licence for the Sydney Stars in 2016, citing insufficient player talent to support four competitive teams in New South Wales.[3]

A team from Fiji, the Fijian Drua, joined the competition for the 2017 season.[14] For the 2018 season, the Greater Sydney Rams were dropped from the competition, leaving Sydney with just one team, the Rays.[15]

Sponsorship

[edit]

The tournament is run by Rugby Australia with the sponsorship of Foxtel which provides television coverage on its Fox Sports channels.[16] Gilbert is the official supplier of all rugby balls.[9]

Player selection

[edit]

Australia's Super Rugby players participate in the NRC under a capped allocation to ensure that all NRC teams have a mix of players from local development squads and club competitions, as well as those with Super Rugby experience. Australian national team players are required for Test match rugby during the NRC season, but each player is allocated to one of the NRC teams and is able to play if released from national duty.

Seasons

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Ed. Year Final Semi-finalists No.
teams
Winner Score / Venue Runner-up
1 2014
Brisbane City 		37–26
Ballymore Stadium
Perth Spirit
NSW Country Eagles
Melbourne Rising 		9
2 2015
Brisbane City 		21–10
Ballymore Stadium
Canberra Vikings
Melbourne Rising
Sydney Stars 		9
3 2016
Perth Spirit 		20–16
Scully Park
NSW Country Eagles
Melbourne Rising
Sydney Rays 		8
4 2017
Queensland Country 		42–28
Viking Park
Canberra Vikings
Perth Spirit
Fijian Drua 		9
5 2018
Fijian Drua 		36–26
Churchill Park
Queensland Country
Canberra Vikings
Western Force 		8
6 2019
Western Force 		41–3
UWA Sports Park
Canberra Vikings
Brisbane City
Fijian Drua 		8
- 2020 Cancelled due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] 8

Results summary

[edit]
Team Champion Runner-up Semi-finalist
Brisbane City 2 (2014, 2015) — 1 (2019)
Perth Spirit 1 (2016) 1 (2014) 1 (2017)
Queensland Country 1 (2017) 1 (2018) —
Fijian Drua 1 (2018) — 2 (2017, 2019)
Western Force 1 (2019) — 1 (2018)
Canberra Vikings — 3 (2015, 2017, 2019) 1 (2018)
NSW Country Eagles — 1 (2016) 1 (2014)
Melbourne Rising — — 3 (2014, 2015, 2016)
Sydney Stars — — 1 (2015)
Sydney Rays — — 1 (2016)

Results summary by region

[edit]
Region Champion Runner-up Semi-finalist
 Queensland 3 (2014, 2015, 2017) 1 (2018) 1 (2019)
 Western Australia 2 (2016, 2019) 1 (2014) 2 (2017, 2018)
 Fidschi 1 (2018) — 2 (2017, 2019)
 Australian Capital Territory — 3 (2015, 2017, 2019) 1 (2018)
 New South Wales — 1 (2016) 3 (2014, 2015, 2016)
 Victoria — — 3 (2014, 2015, 2016)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "National Club Championship concept to be \"inclusive\"". Rugby.com.au. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Sport: NRC cancellation a blow for Fijian Drua rugby team". RNZ. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Sydney Stars victims of National Rugby Championship consolidation". The Daily Telegraph. 11 February 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Historic 2017 NRC draw released as Fiji enters the fray". Australian Rugby (Press release). 21 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  5. ^ "ARU Board approves nine team National Rugby Championship to start in August 2014". rugby.com.au (Press release). 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  6. ^ "SA Rugby misses out on an NRC Team". sarugby.com.au. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Australia relaunches National Rugby Championship". rugbyweek.com. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  8. ^ "NRC update part 1: Queensland, Perth, Melbourne and Canberra". The Roar. 8 July 2014. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Buildcorp announced as National Rugby Championship naming rights partner". Australian Rugby. 16 July 2014. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  10. ^ "ARU partners with Allianz for new National Rugby Championship". Australian Rugby. 20 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Law variation". Australian Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  12. ^ McKay, Brett (13 August 2015). "Law variations to continue in NRC Season 2". The Roar. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  13. ^ Payten, Iain (4 March 2015). "New broadcasting deal ensures future of National Rugby Championship until at least 2020". The Courier Mail. News. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  14. ^ "FRU Reveals Fiji NRC Official Name and Kit" (Press release). Fiji Rugby Union. 16 August 2017. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  15. ^ NSW to field two NRC teams in 2018 - Beth Newman, Rugby.com.au, 6 June 2018
  16. ^ McKay, Brett (15 July 2014). "NRC update part 3: All systems go for launch". The Roar. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Sport: NRC cancellation a blow for Fijian Drua rugby team". rnz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand. 4 June 2020.
[edit]

Team webpages

[edit]
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