We've reached a break in the Rugby Championship, but the Southern Hemisphere's Mitre 10 Cup and Currie Cup continue in New Zealand and South Africa, and this weekend also sees club footy kicking off in Australia, with the National Rugby Championship.
There will be some big names lacing up their boots, including recently exiled Wallaby playmaker Quade Cooper, who will suit up for Brisbane City.
Instead of focusing on the negatives of his omission, Cooper appears to be saying all the right things concerning future selection. Speaking to Fox Sports, Cooper was optimistic about the future.
"In my head, automatically (I knew) the pathway to get back is here in the NRC. So of course I'll be here working as hard as possible - there's fire there," he said.
Fellow capped Wallabies Nick Frisby, Kane Douglas, and Samu Kerevi will also be playing alongside Cooper for Brisbane City.
Another nice angle to this year's competition is the successful negotiations that occured between the Fiji Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby Union to include a team from Fiji, known as Fijian Drua.
This not only gives Fijian players much better exposure to a sustained, higher level of Rugby, it also shines a spotlight on the island nation itself as they will now be hosting matches at multiple venues.
Brisbane City will host Fijian Drua for round one at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday.
Other first round matches:
- Canberra Vikings vs Queensland Country
- Greater Sydney Rams vs NSW Country Eagles
- Perth Spirit vs Melbourne Rising
Credit: Rugby.com.au
0 Comments