2019 National Rugby Championship Explained
| 2019 National Rugby Championship |
| Countries: | Australia
Fiji |
| Date: | 31 August – 26 October |
| Champions: | Western Force |
| Runnersup: | Canberra Vikings |
| Matches: | 31 |
| Attendance: | 57800 |
| Highest Attendance: | 6,500(Western Force 41-3 Canberra Vikings) |
| Website: | http://www.rugby.com.au/competitions/nrc |
| Prevseason: | 2018 |
The 2019 National Rugby Championship was the sixth season of the top flight of Australian domestic rugby union. The competition began on 31 August and concluded on 26 October. The match of the round was broadcast live each week on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports, with all matches streamed on rugby.com.au live. The championship featured eight professional teams, seven from Australia and one from Fiji.
Teams
The eight teams for the 2019 NRC season include two from New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one each from Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Western Australia, and Fiji:
Television coverage and streaming
One NRC match per round is broadcast live via Fox Sports. All matches are also shown live on the Kayo Sports and Rugby.com.au streaming platforms.
Experimental Law Variations
Two new trial variations were included for the 2019 NRC.[11]
- A 50:22 kick, whereby a team kicking the ball indirectly into touch (i.e. not on the full) is awarded the resulting lineout throw if the ball is kicked: (a) from within the team's own half and finds touch in the opposition's 22; or (b) from within the team's own 22 and finds touch in the opposition's half.
- A goal line drop-out, awarded to the defending team if an attacking player brings the ball into the in-goal and is held up.
Notes and References
- News: 'We've got a point to prove': Darcy Swain and Vikings ready for NRC. Canberra Times. 27 August 2019. 27 August 2019.
- News: Nasokia . Waisea . Eremasi Radrodro leads Fijian Drua to the National Rugby Championship . The Fiji Sun . 22 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190826061908/https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/08/22/eremasi-radrodro-leads-fijian-drua-to-the-national-rugby-championship/ . 26 August 2019.
- Web site: Payten . Iain . Sydney, NSW Country name coaches; Tahs may recruit Foley replacement . Rugby.com.au . https://web.archive.org/web/20190716174313/https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/07/16/nrc-sydney-eagles . 16 July 2019 . 16 July 2019.
- Web site: NRC captains welcome rule changes in 2019 tournament. rugby.com.au. 27 August 2019. 27 August 2019.
- Web site: 2 August 2019 . Brisbane City team staff announced for 2019 National Rugby Championship . Reds Rugby . https://web.archive.org/web/20190802134819/https://www.redsrugby.com.au/News/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/18612/Brisbane-City-team-staff-announced-for-2019-National-Rugby-Championship.aspx . 2 August 2019.
- Web site: Brisbane City announce squad for 2019 National Rugby Championship . Queensland Rugby Union . 26 August 2019.
- Web site: Bond University Queensland Country squad announced for 2019 National Rugby Championship . Queensland Rugby Union . 26 August 2019.
- Web site: Pom Simona Revealed as Rising Head Coach. 17 July 2019. Melbourne Rebels . 17 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190717100024/https://www.melbournerebels.com/news/2019/07/17/rising-nrc-coach-revealed.
- Web site: Tupou to lead Rising for 2019. 22 August 2019. Melbourne Rebels.
- Web site: Strong squad named for NRC . Western Force . 26 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190826072933/https://www.westernforce.com.au/strong-squad-named-for-nrc/ . 26 August 2019.
- Web site: Greenwood . Emma . Coaches' tactical response to NRC law variations to be interesting: Scrivener . Rugby.com.au . https://web.archive.org/web/20190831061550/https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/07/31/nrc-law-variations-scrivener . 31 August 2019.
Fiji