2016 National Rugby Championship

Last updated

2016 National Rugby Championship
Date27 August – 22 October 2016
Champions Perth Spirit   (1st title)
Runners-up NSW Country Eagles
Matches played31
Official website
buildcorpnrc.com.au
←  2015
2017  →

The 2016 National Rugby Championship (known as the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the third season of Australia's National Rugby Championship. It involved eight professional rugby union teams, one team fewer than in the previous two seasons. The competition kicked off on 27 August 2016.

Contents

Teams

Australia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
BC
Red pog.svg
MR
Red pog.svg
CE
Red pog.svg
PS
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QC
Red pog.svg
SR
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   WSR
Red pog.svg
CV
Location of teams in the 2016 National Rugby Championship

Legend:

BC –   Brisbane City
CV –   Canberra Vikings
CE –   Country Eagles
MR –   Melbourne Rising
PS –   Perth Spirit
QC –   Queensland Country
SR –   Sydney Rays
WSR – Western Sydney Rams

A major change was made for the 2016 season with the scrapping of the Sydney Stars team. The Australian Rugby Union did not renew their licence for the competition to consolidate playing strength of the teams in New South Wales. [1] The North Harbour Rays subsequently changed their name to become the Sydney Rays. [1] Prior to the season it was also reported that the Canberra Vikings would be renamed the Canberra Kookaburras in a return to the traditional name of the ACT team, but this change was postponed until at least the 2017 season. [2]

The eight teams for the 2016 NRC season include three from New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one each from Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Western Australia:

RegionTeamCoach(es)Captain(s)Refs
ACT Canberra Vikings Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Southwell Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jarrad Butler [2]
NSW NSW Country Eagles Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darren Coleman Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paddy Ryan [3]
Sydney Rays Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Cron Flag of Australia (converted).svg Matt Lucas [4]
Western Sydney Rams Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Muggleton Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Asquith [5]
QLD Brisbane City Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Seib Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sam Talakai [6]
Queensland Country Flag of Australia (converted).svg Toutai Kefu Flag of Australia (converted).svg James Tuttle [6]
VIC Melbourne Rising Flag of Australia (converted).svg Zane Hilton Flag of Australia (converted).svg Nic Stirzaker [7]
WA Perth Spirit Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dwayne Nestor Flag of Australia (converted).svg Heath Tessmann [8]

Home match venues scheduled for the 2016 NRC season:

RegionTeamMatch VenueCapacityCity
ACT Canberra Vikings Viking Park 8,000 Canberra
NSW NSW Country Eagles Endeavour Oval a 3,000 Orange
Magpies Rugby Park3,000 Tamworth
Scully Park 11,000
Sports Ground No. 25,000 Newcastle
Sydney University5,000 Sydney
Sydney Rays North Sydney Oval 20,000
Pittwater Park 10,000
Western Sydney Rams Concord Oval 20,000
QLD Brisbane City Ballymore 18,000 Brisbane
Queensland Country Bond University , Gold Coast 5,000 Gold Coast
Sports Ground 9,000 Toowoomba
VIC Melbourne Rising Holmesglen Reserve3,000 Melbourne
Frankston Park 8,000
WA Perth Spirit UWA Rugby Club 4,000 Perth

Television coverage and streaming

Two of the NRC matches each weekend were broadcast live via Fox Sports, with the other matches shown on the Fox Sports streaming platform. Discussion of the NRC competition was included on Fox Sports' review show NRC Extra Time on Monday nights, [9] and the Rugby 360 program on Wednesday evenings.

Experimental Law Variations

The most significant new law variation adopted for the 2016 season was the further change in point scoring values, with tries made worth six points and any form of goal worth two points. [10]

Two of the scrum law variations trialed since the since the inaugural season of the National Rugby Championship in 2014 were adopted (along with other minor amendments) into World Rugby's laws in 2016 and were thus no longer law variations. These changes to Law 20.1(d) and Law 20.12(c) sanctioned against delay in forming a scrum, and against a scrum half whose team has not won the ball stepping onto the space between the position flanker and No. 8 while the ball is in the scrum. [11]

The other law variations used in 2014 and 2015, [12] were retained for the 2016 season. [9]

NRC Law Variations 2016
Existing Law of the GameVariation
Law 5.7(e)
If time expires and the ball is not dead, or an awarded scrum or lineout has not been completed, the referee allows play to continue until the next time that the ball becomes dead. The ball becomes dead when the referee would have awarded a scrum, lineout, an option to the non-infringing team, drop out or after a conversion or successful penalty kick at goal. If a scrum has to be reset, the scrum has not been completed. If time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty kick is then awarded, the referee allows play to continue.		Non-offending team is allowed to kick the ball into touch after being awarded a penalty kick, which has been blown after time expires, and the lineout will take place.
Law 9.A.1
Value of a Try - 5 points
Value of a Penalty goal - 3 points
Value of a Dropped goal - 3 points



Value of a Try - 6 points
Value of a Penalty goal - 2 points
Value of a Dropped goal - 2 points


Also being trialled in New Zealand’s Heartland Championship in 2016. [13]

Law 9.B.1(e)
The kicker must take the kick within one minute and thirty seconds (ninety seconds) from the time a try has been awarded. The player must take the kick within one minute and thirty seconds even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again.		Time limit reduced to 60 seconds for conversion kicks, and 45 seconds for penalty kicks.
Law 17.2(d)
Keeping players on their feet. Players in a maul must endeavour to stay on their feet. The ball carrier in a maul may go to ground providing the ball is available immediately and play continues.		Greater policing of this law, in order to discourage "hold up tackles", by ensuring that the tackler, who holds up a ball carrier in an effort to form a maul, does not collapse the maul as soon as it has formed.
Law 19.2(d)
For a quick throw-in, the player must use the ball that went into touch. A quick throw-in is not permitted if another person has touched the ball apart from the player throwing it in and an opponent who carried it into touch. The same team throws into the lineout.		Players will be allowed to take quick throw-ins regardless of whether someone else has touched the ball
Law 19.6
The player taking the throw-in must stand at the correct place. The player must not step into the field of play when the ball is thrown. The ball must be thrown straight, so that it travels at least 5 metres along the line of touch before it first touches the ground or touches or is touched by a player.		Latitude will be given to the throwing team if the opposing team does not compete for the ball near where the ball is received
Law 21.2(a)
The kicker must take the penalty or free kick at the mark or anywhere behind it on a line through the mark.		Increased latitude will be given to where penalty and free kicks are to be taken
Competition rule - Bonus point awarded for scoring 4 triesBonus point awarded if winning team scores 3 or more tries than their opponents.

This particular system has been used in France's professional leagues since the 2007–08 northern hemisphere season. [14] [15]
Television match official protocolsTelevision match official to only be consulted about tries and in-goal plays.

Regular season

The eight teams compete in a round-robin tournament for the regular season. Each team has four matches at home and four away. The top four teams qualify for the title play-offs with semi-finals and finals.

During this section of the tournament, teams can also play for the Horan-Little Shield, a challenge trophy that is played for when a challenge is accepted or offered by the holders.

Standings

National Rugby Championship
PosTeamPWDLPFPAPDTBLBPts
1 NSW Country Eagles HL 7601280190+903128
2 Sydney Rays 7601258174+843027
3 Perth Spirit 7502250210+402022
4 Melbourne Rising 7304260262−21316
5 Canberra Vikings 7304254276−222115
6 Western Sydney Rams 7205264266−21413
7 Brisbane City 7205216306−90019
8 Queensland Country 7106248346−98037
Updated: 9 October 2016

Source: rugbyarchive.net
 •Teams 1 to 4 (Green background) at the end of the preliminary competition rounds qualify for the Title play-offs.
HL denotes the holder of the Horan-Little Shield.

Four points for a win, two for a draw, and no points for a bye.
One bonus point for the winning team scoring three or more tries than their opponent (TB), one bonus point for losing by eight or less (LB).
If teams are level on points in the standings at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: [Table notes 1]
 • Difference between points for and against
 • Match result between tied teams
 • Total number of tries scored in the competition

  1. ↑ McKay, Brett. "NRC tie breaker method". Green and Gold Rugby. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016.

Competition rounds

Round 1

27 August 2016 Perth Spirit 20–16 Melbourne Rising BP McGillivray Oval, Perth  
11:00Try: Morahan (2) 48', 67'
Havili 5'
Con: Lance (1/3) 67'
Try: Jeffries 38'
Reid 56'
Con: Debreczeni (2/2) 39', 57'
Attendance: 600
Referee: Graham Cooper [16]
27 August 2016 NSW Country Eagles 22–12 Brisbane City Uni Rugby Field, Sydney 
15:00Try: Hanigan 26'
Newsome 40'
Needs 43'
Con: Deegan (2/3) 27', 40'
Cards: Needs Yellow card.svg 52' to 62'
Hanigan Yellow card.svg 69' to 79'		Try: Strachan 38'
Beauchamp 52'
Con: Russell (0/1)
Strachan (0/1)
Cards: Ready Yellow card.svg 6' to 16'
L. Tui Yellow card.svg 28' to 38'		Referee: Angus Gardner
28 August 2016BP Sydney Rays 50–30 Western Sydney Rams North Sydney Oval, Sydney  
13:00Try: Woolf (2) 4', 80'
Fitzpatrick 11'
Jones 14', Dempsey 32'
Simone 36', Roos 70'
Con: Sinclair (4/7) 5', 12', 15', 33'
Cards: Dempsey Yellow card.svg 49' to 59' Yellow-red card.svg 74' to 80'		Try: Paenga-Amosa (2) 17', 28'
Tufui 49'
Allen 58'
Con: Asquith (3/3) 29', 50', 59'
Nikoro (0/1)
Cards: Payne Yellow card.svg 64' to 74'		Referee: Will Houston
28 August 2016 Queensland Country 20–58 Canberra Vikings BP Bond University, Gold Coast  
15:00Try: Banks (2) 72', 74'
Perese 61'
Con: Mason (1/3) 75'
Try: Dargaville (2) 6', 27'
Arnold (2) 19', 50'
Speight (2) 68', 80'
Abel 30'
Jackson-Hope 76'
Con: Jooste (5/8) 6', 28', 51', 68', 77'
Referee: Nic Berry

Round 2

1 September 2016BP Sydney Rays 28–8 Perth Spirit North Sydney Oval, Sydney  
16:30Try: Jones 23'
Wileman 49'
Fitzpatrick 64'
Luxton 75'
Con: Lucas (2/4)49', 64'
Try: Louwrens 4'
Con: Lance (1/1) 5'
Cards: Stringer Yellow card.svg 34' to 44'
Vasukicakau Yellow card.svg 54' to 64'
May Yellow card.svg 64' to 74'
Alatimu Yellow card.svg 80' to 80+1'		Referee: Angus Gardner
Horan-Little Challenge3 September 2016 Brisbane City 44–36 Western Sydney Rams BP Ballymore, Brisbane  
15:00Try: Felsman (2) 61', 71
Gibbon 12', Tui 22'
Talakai 35', Houston 42'
Con: McIntyre (3/4) 23', 35', 43'
Felsman (1/1) 63'
James (0/1)
Cards: Gunn Yellow card.svg 31' to 41'
Houston Yellow card.svg 51' to 61'
Ready Yellow card.svg 65' to 75'		Try: Paenga-Amosa 6'
Gale 30'
Smart 40'
Viiga 52'
Kei 66'
Con: Asquith (3/5) 31', 52', 67'
Cards: Skelton Yellow card.svg 33' to 43'		Referee: Ed Martin
4 September 2016 Melbourne Rising 46–32 Queensland Country Holmesglen Reserve, Melbourne  
13:00Try: English 5'
Leafa 32'
Meehan 48'
Timani 55'
Tuimalealiifano 58'
Tuipulotu 73'
Con: Meehan (5/5) 5', 32', 49', 56', 75'
Debreczeni (0/1)
Cards: Reid Yellow card.svg 7' to 17'
Toolis Yellow card.svg 78' to 80+2'		Try: Simmons 9'
Rodda 12'
Perese 17'
Mitchell 40'
Con: Mason (4/4) 10', 13', 18', 40'
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
4 September 2016 Canberra Vikings 28–60 NSW Country Eagles BP Viking Park, Canberra  
15:00Try: A. Robinson (2) 67', 75'
Smith 65'
Arnold 80'
Con: Jooste (2/4) 65', 76'
Cards: Coleman Yellow card.svg 7' to 17'		Try: Newsome (2) 3', 61'
Perry (2) 9', 50'
Ward 23', Hanigan 29'
Godwin 46', R. Robinson 57'
Con: Deegan (5/7) 4', 10', 30' 48', 58'
Adams (1/1) 61'
Cards: Newsome Yellow card.svg 63' to 73'
Fainga'a Yellow card.svg 63' to 73'
Perry Yellow card.svg 80' to 80+1'		Referee: Graham Cooper

Round 3

10 September 2016BP Western Sydney Rams 24–30 Perth Spirit Concord Oval, Sydney  
13:00Try: Toleafoa 25'
Paenga-Amosa 30'
Payne 65'
Con: Asquith (3/3) 26', 31', 67'
Cards: Toleafoa Yellow card.svg 11' to 21'		Try: Lance 14'
Matuauto 22', Vasukicakau 32'
Louwrens 40'
Con: Lance (3/4) 14', 33', 40'
Cards: Havilli Yellow card.svg 74' to 80'		Referee: Ed Martin
10 September 2016BP Queensland Country 22–30 Sydney Rays Bond University, Gold Coast  
15:00Try: Perese 27'
Third 65', Banks 78'
Con: Tuttle (1/1) 28'
Third (1/2) 66'
Try: Woolf (2) 35', 47'
Palmer 40', Brown 58'
Con: Lucas (3/4) 37', 40', 59'
Cards: Sinclair Yellow card.svg 9' to 19'
Bergelin Yellow card.svg 65' to 75'		Referee: Jordan Way
Horan-Little Challenge11 September 2016 Brisbane City 20–52 Canberra Vikings BP Ballymore, Brisbane  
13:00Try: Naisarani 3'
Frisby 16'
Kuridrani 37'
Con: McIntyre (1/3) 38'
Cards: Kuridrani Yellow card.svg 66' to 76'		Try: Abel (2) 10', 45'
Noa 22', Robinson 27'
Butler 66', Carter 74'
Speight 78'
Con: Thompson (3/4) 23', 27', 46'
Jooste (2/3) 76' 79'
Referee: Nic Berry
11 September 2016 NSW Country Eagles 32–30 Melbourne Rising BPRugby Park, Tamworth  
15:00Try: Latu 20'
Figg 23', Hanigan 31'
Gordon 33'
Con: Deegan (4/4) 21', 24', 31', 34'
Cards: Newsome Yellow card.svg 74' to 80'		Try: Meehan 27'
Snowden 43'
Silafai-Leaana 63'
R. Leota 78'
Con: Debreczeni (3/4) 27', 44', 79'
Referee: Will Houston

Round 4

17 September 2016 Sydney Rays 16–36 NSW Country Eagles BP Pittwater Park, Sydney  
13:00Try: Vest 4'
Penalty try 57'
Con: Lucas (1/1) 5'
Sinclair (1/1) 57'
Try: Robinson (2) 40', 49'
Latu 20', Cusack 80'
Gordon 81'
Con: Deegan (2/3) 21', 51'
Adams (1/2) 80'
Cards: Latu Yellow card.svg 55' to 65'
Fainga'a Yellow card.svg 67' to 77'		Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
17 September 2016 Melbourne Rising 46–28 Brisbane City Holmesglen Reserve, Melbourne  
15:00Try: Debreczeni (2) 19', 80'
Tupai 8', Reid 12'
Placid 32', Fox 72'
Con: Debreczeni (1/2) 13'
Meehan (4/4) 20', 33', 73', 80'
Cards: Tupai Yellow card.svg 37' to 47'
English Yellow card.svg 53' to 63'		Try: Naisarani (2) 29', 35'
White 58'
James 76'
Con: McIntyre (1/3) 30'
James (1/1) 76'
Cards: James Yellow card.svg 16' to 26'		Referee: Ed Martin
Horan-Little Challenge18 September 2016 Canberra Vikings 22–16 Western Sydney Rams BP Viking Park, Canberra  
13:00Try: Taliauli 31'
Tuala 40', McInerney 70'
Con: Jooste (2/3) 40', 71
Try: Latunipulu 18'
Toleafoa 36'
Con: Asquith (2/2) 18', 37'
Referee: Amy Perrett
18 September 2016BP Perth Spirit 66–36 Queensland Country McGillivray Oval, Perth  
13:00Try: Morahan (3) 31', 70', 75'
R. Haylett-Petty (2) 38', 40'
Vui 26', Louwrens 42'
Brache 46', Matuauto 79
Con: Lance (6/9) 27', 32', 40',
43', 47', 71'.
Cards: Stringer Yellow card.svg 55' to 65'		Try: Kaitu'u 56'
Paia'aua 59'
Cornelsen 62'
Mason 74'
Banks 82'
Con: Third (1/1) 57'
Mason (2/4) 63', 74'
Referee: Jordan Way

Round 5

24 September 2016BP NSW Country Eagles 48–24 Perth Spirit Concord Oval, Sydney a  
13:00Try: Gordon (3) 16', 29', 46'
R. Robinson 19'
Godwin 67', Hanigan 83'
Con: Adams (6/6) 17', 20', 47', 68', 84'
Cards: Fainga'a Yellow card.svg 10' to 20'
Croke Yellow card.svg 69' to 79'		Try: Tapuai 26'
Eden 32'
Matuauto 62'
Con: Lance (3/3) 27', 33', 64'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Nic Berry
24 September 2016 Western Sydney Rams 50–46 Queensland Country BP Concord Oval, Sydney  
15:00Try: Smart (2) 22', 80'
Viiga 15', Asquith 37'
Paenga-Amosa 44'
Latunipulu 62'
Penalty Try 87'
Con: Asquith (2/4) 37', 45'
Walton (2/3) 63', 88'
Try: McNamara 5'
Banks 17', Pincus 20'
Casey 31', Scott-Young 33'
Jones 53'
Con: Mason (5/6) 18', 21', 31', 34', 54'
Cards: Jones Yellow card.svg 80+2' to 80+8'		Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Amy Perrett
Horan-Little Challenge25 September 2016 Canberra Vikings 44–60 Melbourne Rising BP Viking Park, Canberra  
13:00Try: Mann-Rea (3) 36', 40', 51'
Staniforth 47', Carter 56'
Thompson 73'
Con: Thompson (4/6) 47', 52', 56', 73'
Cards: Taliauli Yellow card.svg 64' to 74'		Try: English (3) 14, 44', 69'
Johansson (2) 53', 59', Jeffries 23'
Debreczeni 32', Toolis 67'
Tuipulotu 80'
Con: Debreczeni(3/9) 33', 60', 70'
Referee: Graham Cooper
25 September 2016BP Brisbane City 32–38 Sydney Rays Ballymore, Brisbane  
15:00Try: Sorovi 9'
McIntyre 28'
L. Tui 49'
Lacey 64'
Tupou 71'
Con: McIntyre (1/5) 50'
Try: Simone (2) 22', 33'
Dempsey 38', Turner 55'
Alcock 67'
Con: Lucas (3/4) 23', 33', 39'
Sinclair (1/1) 68'
Cards: Fitzpatrick Yellow card.svg 69' to 79'		Referee: Will Houston

Round 6

1 October 2016 Queensland Country 40–38 NSW Country Eagles BP Sports Ground, Toowoomba  
13:00 AESTTry: Paia’aua (2) 44', 49'
Scott-Young 4', Postal 25'
Casey 38', Asiata 70'
Con: Mason (2/5) 26', 45'
Third (0/1)
Try: Hill (2) 15', 73'
Kagiassis 17', L. Holmes 54'
Godwin 59'
Con: Deegan (4/5) 17', 55', 60', 74'
Referee: Damon Murphy
1 October 2016BP Sydney Rays 58–14 Canberra Vikings Pittwater Park, Sydney  
15:00 AESTTry: Fitzpatrick (2) 20', 25'
Jones (2) 22', 79', Turner (2) 28', 40'
Wells 8', Sinclair 54'
Con: Lucas (5/7) 9', 20', 26', 29', 40'
Sinclair (0/1)
Cards: Alcock Yellow card.svg 71' to 80+1'		Try: Smiler 32'
McInerney 61'
Con: Jooste (1/1) 33'
Horan (0/1)
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Nic Berry
Horan-Little Challenge2 October 2016 Melbourne Rising 30–68 Western Sydney Rams BPHolmesglen Reserve, Melbourne  
15:00 AEDTTry: Tuipulotu (2) 41', 50'
Snowden 16', Leafa 22'
Con: Debreczeni (3/4) 17', 23', 51'
Cards: Johansson Yellow card.svg 32' to 42'
Toolis Yellow card.svg 60' to 70'
Debreczeni Yellow card.svg 67' to 77'		Try: Viiga (3) 9', 40', 67'
Sopoaga 19', Asquith 30'
Walton 33', Lolohea 45'
Nikoro 62', Taupou 79'
Con: Asquith (7/9) 10', 30', 34', 40', 46', 68', 80'
Cards: Smart Yellow card.svg 49' to 59'		Referee: Ed Martin
2 October 2016BP Perth Spirit 60–22 Brisbane City McGillivray Oval, Perth  
14:00 AWSTTry: Hardwick (2) 40', 64'
McCalman (2) 51', 60', Tessmann 15'
Brache 33', Masirewa 55'
Eden 76', R. Haylett-Petty 79'
Con: Prior (1/6) 16'
Eden (1/1) 65'
Alatimu (1/2) 76'
Cards: Louwrens Yellow card.svg 10' to 20'		Try: McIntyre 11'
Felsman 29', Lacey 67'
Con: McIntyre (2/3) 12', 30'
Cards: Sorovi Yellow card.svg 39' to 49'
Sooaemalelagi Yellow card.svg 48' to 58'
L. Tui Yellow card.svg 51' to 61'		Attendance: 400
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann

Round 7

Horan-Little Challenge8 October 2016BP Western Sydney Rams 40–44 NSW Country Eagles Concord Oval, Sydney  
13:00 AEDTTry: Viiga (2) 8' 26'
Wessels 22', Paenga-Amosa 48'
Smart 64', Minute 72'
Con: Asquith (2/6) 23', 64'
Cards: Viiga Yellow card.svg 68' to 78'		Try: Gordon (2) 44', 69'
R. Robinson 16', Fainga'a 31'
Ward 33', Ryan 76'
Con: Deegan (2/4) 32', 34'
Adams (2/2) 69', 77'
Cards: Figg Yellow card.svg 21' to 31'		Attendance: 3,000+
Referee: Graham Cooper
8 October 2016BP Canberra Vikings 36–42 Perth Spirit Viking Park, Canberra  
15:00 AEDTTry: Mann-Rae (2) 27', 63'
Taliauli 9', Sinoti 17'
Thompson 78'
Con: Thompson (3/4) 10', 18', 79'
Horan (0/1)
Try: Stander (2) 21', 55'
Vasukicakau 37', Louwrens 48'
Meakes 66'
Con: Lance (1/1) 22'
Prior (3/3) 38', 49', 56'
Alatimu (1/1) 67'
Pen: Alatimu (1/1) 80'
Referee: Will Houston
9 October 2016BP Melbourne Rising 38–32 Sydney Rays Frankston Park, Melbourne  
13:00 AEDTTry: Placid 12'
Cummins 17', Lomax 44'
English 76'
Con: Johansson (3/3) 13', 18', 45'
Snowden (1/1) 77'
Try: Dempsey 4'
Foley 6', Roos 19'
Jones 28', Simone 38'
Con: Sinclair (4/5) 5', 20', 29', 39'
Referee: Nic Berry
9 October 2016 Brisbane City 58–52 Queensland Country BP Ballymore, Brisbane  
14:00 AESTTry: White (2) 4', 12'
Naisarani (2) 46', 56', Gibbon (2) 65', 73'
Beauchamp 17', Kuridrani 21'
Con: McIntyre (5/8) 12', 18', 47', 58', 66'
Cards: Paraka Yellow card.svg 61' to 71'		Try: Tuttle (2) 36', 62'
Postal 9', Tupou 26'
Perese 60', Lefau 76'
Banks 78'
Con: Third (0/1)
Paia’aua (5/6) 27', 37', 61', 63', 79'
Cards: Tupou Yellow card.svg 49' to 59'		Attendance: 3,000+
Referee: Damon Murphy

Title play-offs

The top four sides in the regular season advanced to the semifinals of the knock-out stage, which was followed by the final to decide the National Rugby Championship title.

Semi-finals

15 October 2016 NSW Country Eagles 50–24 Melbourne Rising Sports Ground No. 2, Newcastle  
15:00 AEDTTry: Figg (2) 12', 37'
Robinson (2) 28', 31'
Gordon (2) 60', 80'
O'Regan 50'
Con: Deegan (3/6) 13', 29', 50,
Adams (1/1) 80'
Try: Naivalu 2'
Leafa 7'
Reid 64'
Con: Debreczeni (3/3) 3', 8', 65'
Referee: Graham Cooper
16 October 2016 Sydney Rays 24–42 Perth Spirit Pittwater Park, Sydney  
15:00 AEDTTry: Fitzpatrick 8'
Jones 10'
Woolf 71
Con: Lucas (2/2) 9', 11'
Sinclair (1/1) 72'
Cards: Dempsey Yellow card.svg 51' to 61'		Try: Prior (2) 33', 43'
Masirewa 15', Brache 21'
Tessmann 51', Rangi 75'
Con: Prior (3/6) 22', 43', 53'
Cards: Meakes Yellow card.svg 48' to 58'		Referee: Will Houston

Final

22 October 2016 NSW Country Eagles 16–20 Perth Spirit Scully Park, Tamworth  
19:45 AEDTTry: Figg 37'
Hill 75'
Con: Deegan (1/1) 37'
Adams (1/1) 75'
Cards: Perry Yellow card.svg 43' to 53'		Try: Louwrens (2) 33', 44'
Morahan 31'
Con: Tapuai (1/1) 45'
Lance (0/2)
Cards: Cowan Yellow card.svg 48' to 58'
Stander Yellow card.svg 64' to 74'		Referee: Nic Berry


Players

The leading scorers in 2016 over the regular season and finals combined were:

See also

Notes

^a The venue for the Round 5 fixture between NSW Country Eagles and Perth Spirit was moved from Orange due to heavy rains causing Endeavour Oval to become waterlogged. The match was relocated to Concord Oval in Sydney. [17]

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The Sydney Stars is a former Australian rugby union football team that competed in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) in 2014 and 2015. The Stars team was established as a joint venture between the Sydney University and Balmain rugby clubs, and was one of four New South Wales teams in the competition.

Sydney (NRC team) Australian rugby union team

Sydney is an Australian rugby union team that competes in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). Formerly known as Sydney Rays, the team is one of two sides from New South Wales in the competition; the other being the NSW Country Eagles.

Greater Sydney Rams Defunct Australian rugby union club, based in Sydney, NSW

The Greater Sydney Rams, originally known as the Western Sydney Rams, is a former rugby union team from Australia that was disbanded in 2018. The Rams won the minor premiership in the 2007 Australian Rugby Championship (ARC), and then competed in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) from 2014 to 2017.

Perth Spirit Defunct Australian rugby union club, based in Perth, WA

The Perth Spirit is a former rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia, that played in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) from 2014 to 2017, winning the competition in 2016. The team was formed in 2007 to compete in the Australian Rugby Championship (ARC).

Canberra Vikings Rugby team

The Canberra Vikings, formerly the Canberra Kookaburras, is an Australian rugby union football team that competes in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). The team is based at Viking Park in Wanniassa, and is backed by the Tuggeranong Vikings Group as the licence holder, with the Brumbies and University of Canberra as non-financial partners.

Bonus points are group tournament points awarded in rugby union tournaments in addition to the standard points for winning or drawing a match. Bonus points were implemented in order to encourage attacking play throughout a match, to discourage repetitive goal-kicking, and to reward teams for "coming close" in losing efforts.

Melbourne Rising Australian rugby union club, based in Melbourne

The Melbourne Rising is an Australian rugby union team based in Melbourne that competes in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). The team represents the rugby community in Victoria and is organised and managed by Rugby Victoria with the coaching and training programs used by the Melbourne Rebels being extended to players joining the team from the Rebels, the local Dewar Shield competition, and local Victorian juniors.

National Rugby Championship Australian national rugby union competition

The National Rugby Championship, known as NRC, was an Australian national rugby union competition. It was contested by eight teams — seven from Australia and one from Fiji. The tournament ran from 2014 until 2019 before being disbanded at the end of 2020 following the change of the Australian rugby TV broadcasting deal from Fox Sports, who funded the competition, to Stan Sport. The 2020 competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2014 National Rugby Championship

The 2014 National Rugby Championship was the inaugural season of Australia's National Rugby Championship, involving nine professional rugby union teams from around Australia. The competition kicked off on 21 August 2014. The final was held on 1 November 2014 and won by Brisbane City.

New South Wales Country Eagles Rugby team

The New South Wales Country Eagles is an Australian rugby union football team competes in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). The team was founded by a group of patrons associated with country rugby in New South Wales. The Eagles team plays home matches in regional centres of New South Wales including Armidale, Goulburn, Orange, and Tamworth.

The 2015 National Rugby Championship was the second season of Australia's National Rugby Championship, involving nine professional rugby union teams from around Australia. The competition kicked off 20 August 2015.

Nick Scrivener is an Australian professional rugby union coach and former player for the ACT Brumbies. As of 2018, he is head coach of Australian National Rugby Championship team the Canberra Vikings, a team he coached previously in 2014 and 2007.

The 2017 National Rugby Championship was the fourth season of Australia's National Rugby Championship. It involved nine professional rugby union teams, one more than the previous year, with eight teams from Australia and one team from Fiji.

Jake Gordon Rugby player

Jake Gordon is an Australian rugby union player who plays for Super Rugby franchise New South Wales Waratahs, and the Wallabies.

Folau Fainga'a is an Australian professional rugby union player who currently plays at hooker for the ACT Brumbies. He previously played for the NSW Country Eagles.

The 2018 National Rugby Championship was the fifth season of the top flight of Australian domestic rugby union. The competition began on 1 September and concluded on 27 October. Matches were broadcast on Fox Sports and the championship featured eight professional teams, seven from Australia and one from Fiji.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Fixtures for streamlined NRC announced". Nine MSN. 29 June 2016. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 Dutton, Chris (3 June 2016). "Canberra Vikings postpone Kookaburras shift as Wayne Southwell takes coaching reins". The canberra Times. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Coaching staff announcement". NSW Country Eagles. 4 June 2016. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Simon Cron takes over as Rays head coach". Rays Rugby. 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Locke in Kevin for NRC". Australian Rugby. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  6. 1 2 Tucker, Jim (8 August 2016). "Wallaby World Cup winner Toutai Kefu joins Queensland Country coaching ranks". Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Rugby News". Melbourne Rising training squad announced. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  8. ↑ Smith, Fraser (25 July 2016). "Local talent set for Perth Spirit call up". RugbyWA. Archived from the original on 25 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  9. 1 2 McKay, Brett (13 August 2015). "Law variations to continue in NRC Season 2". The Roar. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  10. ↑ Newman, Beth (29 June 2016). "Tries more valuable in new NRC". Australian Rugby. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "Northern hemisphere to come into line with minor law amendments next month". World Rugby (Press release). 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "LAW VARIATION". Australian Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Law trials for NZ domestic competitions in 2016". Heartland Championship. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "French try out new bonus point system". Planet-Rugby.com. 27 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2007.
  15. ↑ "Article 330, Section 3.2. Points "terrain"" (PDF). Règlements de la Ligue Nationale de Rugby 2008/2009 (in French). LNR. Chapitre 2 : Règlement sportif du Championnat de France Professionnel. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  16. ↑ "Referees to 28 August 2016". SA Referees. 22 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  17. ↑ "Rams and Eagles to host NRC double header in Sydney this Saturday". Rugby News. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.

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