Tuesday’s rugby news has the exiting third tier developments, an injury setback for the Tahs and a founding Rebel out for the season.
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Third tier teams announced
The National Rugby Championship, set to start in August, will feature nine teams over a nine-week regular season period. The competition will include two teams from Queensland, four from New South Wales, and one each from the ACT, Victoria and Western Australia.
ARU chief executive Bill Pulver emphasised that the new competition will, ‘support the ARU’s objective to create additional compelling content for broadcasters with a quality local competition to rival New Zealand’s (National Provincial Championship) and South Africa’s Currie Cup.’ [/one_half]
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NRC propose law changes
The ARU are also planning to implement radical law changes for the new third-tier tournament, aimed at creating a more exciting brand of running rugby. Some of the changes considered are reducing penalty goals from 3 to 2 points, increasing conversions from 2 to 3 points, preventing penalty goals outside the 22, stopping the clock for the duration of scrums and more immediate yellow cards for breakdown penalties.
ARU boss Bill Pulver declared that the NRC would succeed largely because FoxSports will pay $1.5 million for live broadcasts, and the willingness of Australia’s top stars to forego wages to develop the third tier of the game. [/one_half]
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Folau out for SA trip
Waratahs superstar Israel Folau will be out of action for his team’s much-anticipated away game against the Sharks on Sunday. The full-back has confirmed that his throat injury is a haematoma, and will be rested this weekend.
NSW coach Michael Cheika emphasised the need for his reserves to step up, while prioritising the requirement of keeping Folau fit and fresh. ‘He’s going to get injured, so we want to also be able to play without him,’ Cheika said. The Tahs will likely move Kurtley Beale to fullback , with replacement Rob Horne being promoted to starting inside centre. [/one_half]
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Rebels lose winger
Rebels winger Lachlan Mitchell has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a right knee fracture in the team’s loss to the Waratahs on Friday. Mitchell was a founding member of the club and sustained the injury during his 50th Rebels appearance.
In more positive news, Jason Woodward could be available to play the Brumbies with his knee injury healing fast enough to warrant a fitness test later in the week. Prop Laurie Weeks will also be available for selection after sitting out a week following concussion protocols. [/one_half]
