After a successful Bellevue Oval debut in 2017, the NSW Country Eagles will head back to Armidale and Tamworth in 2018.
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In its fifth season, the National Rugby Championship will return to Armidale for round four with the Eagles hosting the Canberra Vikings on Sunday, September 23.
A host of New England locals were part of the squad last year including Tamworth’s Paddy Ryan as captain, Glen Innes’ Alex Newsome and Niangala’s Jock Armstrong.
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In a fitting finish to the game in the Tablelands in 2017, Newsome scored the match-winning try after the full-time siren had sounded as the Country Eagles took the game 25-24.
The University of New England has a partnership with the Country Eagles and secured the rights to host two games, including last year’s fixture.
Director of UNE Life David Schmude said the university is proud to be part of hosting major sporting events and hopes it can continue in the future.
“We are really excited by it and looking forward to it,” he said.
“Armidale has always had a great tradition of hosting events and I think now with the [mountain bike] world champs [in 2020], it is going to go from strength-to-strength.
“We are really excited from a UNE perspective to play a role in that and I think it is a great opportunity for our students and our community.
“Certainly for us to host National Rugby Championships in Armidale which has national exposure, I think that is a big one for us – certainly from a university perspective.”
For the Eagles players, taking part in games across Country NSW is a thrill with a lot of them never having played in front of ‘home crowds’ before.
NSW Country Eagles chief executive Andrew Blades said they are looking forward to coming back to Armidale and Tamworth and having the opportunity to mix with local crowds.
“A lot of them went off to school in Sydney and stayed down to play professional rugby or go to uni or work and the ability for those guys to come back and play at home in front of their family, friends and get out to regional areas is a great experience for them,” he said.
“The guys are super keen to be involved again this year so we are looking forward to it.
“Normally we have, and we will do it again this year, coaching clinics the night before the game for any local juniors that want to come down.
“The guys love doing that as well and kicking a ball around with young rugby players who are keen to meet these guys.”
The Country Eagles won’t announce their squad until a few weeks before the season starts but Blades said they have already been looking at the make-up of the teams.
“Once the Wallabies pick their side for the rugby championship we will look at the Waratahs guys who are involved in that,” he said.
“Then we look at form in the Shute Shield and other NSW competitions and start putting together our squads on the back of that.”
Tamworth’s Scully Park will also play host to a Country Eagles home game on Saturday, October 13 for round seven against reigning champions Queensland Country.
Last season, the Queensland Country side beat the Eagles 34-31 and Blades said they are hoping to turn the tables in Tamworth this season.
“The big thing with that is we want to get one back on them from last year.
“That was probably our toughest game of the year so we are really looking forward to getting stuck into that game and also getting back to Tamworth.
“Last year we had people come to Tamworth from all over the place – people drove in from Bourke, all over NSW – to be involved that day.”
The seven round season commences on September 1 with finals beginning on October 20.
The NRC grand final will be on October 27.
2018 National Rugby Championship draw
Round one
Saturday, September 1
Fiji Drua v Melbourne Rising, Nausori, Ratu Cakobau Park, 3.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Canberra Vikings v Queensland Country, Canberra, Viking Park, 5.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Sunday, September 2
Brisbane City v Western Force, Brisbane, Norths Rugby Club, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Wednesday, September 19*
Sydney v NSW Country, Sydney, Leichhardt Oval, 7.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Round two
Saturday, September 8
Fiji Drua v Brisbane City, Lautoka, Churchill Park, 3.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Sydney v Canberra Vikings, Sydney, Concord Oval, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Sunday, September 9
Queensland Country v Melbourne Rising, Townsville, Mike Carney Park, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Western Force v NSW Country Eagles, Perth, UWA Sports Park, 3.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Round three
Saturday, September 15
Sydney v Brisbane City, Sydney, Woollahra Oval, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
NSW Country v Melbourne Rising, Mudgee, Glen Willow Sports Stadium, 1.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Queensland Country v Fiji Drua, Mackay, BB Print Stadium, 1.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Sunday, September 16
Canberra Vikings v Western Force, Canberra, Viking Park, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Round four
Saturday, September 22
Melbourne Rising v Brisbane City, Adelaide, Bailey Reserve, 12.30pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Queensland Country v Western Force, Gold Coast, Bond University, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Sunday, September 23
NSW Country Eagles v Canberra Vikings, Armidale, UNE Bellevue Oval, 1.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Sydney v Fiji Drua, Sydney, Concord Oval, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Round five
Saturday, September 29
Fiji Drua v NSW Country Eagles, Nausori, Ratu Cakobau Park, 3.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Canberra Vikings v Melbourne Rising, Canberra, Viking Park, 7.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Sunday, September 30
Brisbane City v Queensland Country, Toowong, Wests Rugby Club, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Western Force v Sydney, Perth, UWA Sports Park, 3.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Round six
Saturday, October 6
Fiji Drua v Canberra Vikings, Lautoka, Churchill, 3.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Queensland Country v Sydney, Gold Coast, Bond University, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Sunday, October 7
NSW Country Eagles v Brisbane City, Camden, Camden Rugby Park, 3.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Melbourne Rising v Western Force, Geelong, GMHBA Stadium, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Round seven
Saturday, October 13
NSW Country v Queensland Country, Tamworth, Scully Park, 3.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Western Force v Fiji Drua, Perth, UWA Sports Park, 2.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Sunday, October 14
Melbourne Rising v Sydney, Ballarat, St Patrick’s School, 1.00pm, streamed LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Brisbane City v Canberra Vikings, Coorparoo, Easts Rugby Club, 2.00pm, LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Semi Finals
Saturday 20 October
1st v 4th
Sunday 21 October
2nd v 3rd
The Final will be played on Saturday 27 October.
All times are local.
Ellen Dunger
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Am currently involved in endurance horse riding and racing. Always happy to hear news and tips. Contact me via email: ellen.dunger@austcommunitymedia.com.au or phone/ text 0438 259 985 www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Am currently involved in endurance horse riding and racing. Always happy to hear news and tips. Contact me via email: ellen.dunger@austcommunitymedia.com.au or phone/ text 0438 259 985 www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
