Australian Rugby Championship (ARC):

NSW Unveils Three Team Structure For The New National Competition.

NSW Rugby has announced three representative teams will play out of Western Sydney, Sydney and Central Coast from 2007 after the new national competition - the Australian Rugby Championship (ARC) - was endorsed by the ARU Board in September.

NSWRU Chairman Arvid Petersen said it was time for Rugby to embrace the new competition.

“This is a new step in the pathway for our players but it is definitely not the death of club Rugby,” said Mr Petersen.

“The Tooheys New Cup will continue as always but now those players have something else to play for.

“Clubs will be invited to align themselves with a region and that will help focus their juniors and supporters to a common geographical area of NSW.

“Kids coming through the system will soon be able to aspire to a competition that will better prepare them for a shot at a Super 14 contract.”

NSWRU Chief Executive Officer Fraser Neill said the representative teams will have the added bonus of unlocking the promise in Sydney’s west.

“This is a good mix,” said Mr Neill.

“We finally have a great opportunity to engage all areas of Sydney to further compete with all codes.”

Mr Neill said much work needs to be done.

“We have appointed a project manager who will begin working on the NSW teams immediately.

“There has been much speculation and debate but now that the decision is made, it’s time to move forward.”

Source: NSW Rugby -  click here to view the full report