Sydney University is set to host the opening round fixture between NSW Country Eagles and current NRC champions Brisbane City in the 2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) this Saturday 27 August, 2016.
12 Sydney Uni representatives will kick-off their NRC season with the much-fancied NSW Country Eagles against back-to-back champions Brisbane City at 3pm in the Harbour City.
With the departure of the Sydney Stars from the competition, Sydney Uni has merged with NSW Country for the next five seasons.
Last year’s competition saw an average of 9.2 tries every match with the ball in play an average of 35 minutes each game (compared to 32 minutes of Super Rugby). In 2016, the Buildcorp NRC will continue to be at the forefront of innovation with a revised points structure seeing six points awarded for a try, two points for a conversion and two points for a penalty goal and drop goal.
Ben Whitaker, ARU General Manager – High Performance said: “We’re all looking forward immensely to the new Buildcorp 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.”
In a new development for 2016, FOX SPORTS will broadcast two games each weekend on television (Saturday and Sunday at 3pm) with the two remaining games (Saturday and Sunday at 1pm) available to stream LIVE via foxsports.com.au and FOX SPORTS Now via Apple TV and Telstra TV. Now fans will be able to watch every single game from the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship for the second season in succession.
In a further boost to the competition, Buildcorp will again be title sponsor of the National Rugby Championship continuing its support from 2014 and 2015.
Buildcorp Managing Director Tony Sukkar said: “Buildcorp is delighted to be extending our support of grassroots rugby through the National Rugby Championship for an additional year. Over the first two years of the competition, we have seen some exceptional talent come through the ranks and give impressive performances, propelling them on their pathway to Super Rugby and beyond.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.
NSW COUNTRY EAGLES
FORWARDS
Sam Needs EASTWOOD
Tom Robertson SYDNEY UNI (WARATAHS)
Paddy Ryan SYDNEY UNI (WARATAHS)
Sonny Suatala RANDWICK
Jed Gillespie EASTWOOD
Cam Betham EASTERN SUBURBS
Folau Faingaa SYDNEY UNI
Tolu Latu SYDNEY UNI (WARATAHS)
Tim Buchanan EASTERN SUBURBS
Ryan McCauley EASTERN SUBURBS (WARATAHS)
Ned Hannigan RANDWICK (WARATAHS)
Will Munro RANDWICK
Jake Wainwright SYDNEY UNI
Rohan O’Regan SYDNEYUNI
Mark Baldwin* RANDWICK
Rowan Perry EASTERN SUBURBS
Sam Ward WARRINGAH
Sam Croke RANDWICK
BACKS
Jake Gordon SYDNEY UNI (WARATAHS)
Mitch Short* RANDWICK
Andrew Deegan RANDWICK (WARATAHS)
Tayler Adams WEST HARBOUR
David Horwitz* RANDWICK (WARATAHS)
Kyle Godwin BRUMBIES (BRUMBIES)
Apakuki Ma’afu RANDWICK
Tom Hill EASTWOOD
Alex Newsome EASTERN SUBURBS
Christian Kagiassis SYDNEY UNI
Reece Robinson RANDWICK (WARATAHS)
Andrew Kellaway* RANDWICK (WARATAHS)
Angus Roberts SYDNEY UNI
Ernest Suavua VIKINGS
Charlie Clifton* EASTERN SUBURBS
Sam Figg* RANDWICK (SEVENS)
Bernard Foley SYDNEY UNI (WALLABIES)
Nick Phipps SYDNEY UNI (WALLABIES)
Dean Mumm SYDNEY UNI (WALLABIES)
2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship FOX SPORTS Broadcast Games (all broadcast games kick off at 3pm AEST)
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