Spirit hosts games across perth in inaugural NRC

[Darren]

The Perth Spirit will host three matches of the National Rugby Championship (NRC) at suburban venues across Perth as a means of bringing the new competition to the Western Australian rugby public.

The Spirit, a team to be formed from Western Force players and leading players from Perth's Pindan Premier Grade, will play home matches at McGillivray Oval (Sunday, 31 August), Joondalup's HBF Arena (Sunday, 28 September) and Rockingham Rugby Union Club (Saturday, 4 October). The Spirit's fourth home fixture will be played in Adelaide (Saturday, 6 September) against the Greater Sydney Rams as a means of assisting to grow rugby in South Australia.

The Spirit will kick off its NRC campaign against the Canberra Vikings in Canberra on Saturday, 23 August.

RugbyWA CEO Mark Sinderberry said it was the organisation's aim to share Spirit matches across Perth.

"The Spirit represents all of Perth and WA and, as a result, we wanted to make the games as accessible to our rugby community as possible," he said.

"We're very pleased to be hosting two home matches at two of our local clubs in UWA and Rockingham, and as one of the fastest growing rugby regions in the country, it was important that we take a match to the Joondalup, Wanneroo and North Coast area at HBF Arena.

"Through our scheduling of home matches, we're very pleased to be hosting one match each in the north, central and south regions of Perth."

Sinderberry says the third-tier competition is valuable for the development of rugby in Western Australia.

"Similar to New Zealand's ITM Cup and the Currie Cup in South Africa, a competition like this provides additional high level rugby opportunities for our aspiring local players and Super Rugby players alike," he said.

"In addition to Force squad members, the Spirit will feature a significant number of our talented local club players, Australian Under 20 stars, and Future Force recruits.

"This competition is a great opportunity for our rugby community to not only continue to follow their Force favourites, but watch the next generation of Western Australia's Super Rugby talent come through."

According to the 2014 National Rugby Championship draw released today (click here to view), the competition will kick off in Brisbane on Thursday, 21 August and will feature a number of law variations designed to enhance exciting play while maintaining the fabric of the game.

One match from each round and the finals series will be broadcast live on Fox Sports.

Round	Date	Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Time (local)
1	Sat 23 Aug	Canberra Vikings	Perth Spirit	Viking Park, Canberra	2.30pm
2	Sun 31 Aug	Perth Spirit	Brisbane City	University of WA, Perth	3.30pm
3	Sat 6 Sept	Perth Spirit	Greater Sydney Rams	Adelaide Airport Stadium, Adelaide	2.00pm
4	Thurs 11 Sept	Melbourne Rising	Perth Spirit	AAMI Park, Melbourne	7.30pm
5	Sat 20 Sept	North Harbour Rays	Perth Spirit	Brookvale Oval, Sydney	5.30pm
6	Sun 28 Sept	Perth Spirit	Sydney Stars	HBF Arena, Perth	3.30pm
7	Sat 4 Oct	Perth Spirit	Queensland Country	Rockingham RUC, Perth	3.30pm
8		Perth Spirit	BYE
9	Sat 18 Oct	NSW Country Eagles	Perth Spirit	Caltex Park, Dubbo	3.00pm
Semi Finals	TBC	1st	4th	TBC (1st Team venue)	TBC
Semi Finals	TBC	2nd	3rd	TBC (2nd Team venue)	TBC
Final	TBC	Semi 1 Winner	Semi 2 Winner	TBC (Top team venue)	TBC

[Sheikh]

I sense road-trips coming on.

Does going to see the Spirit 'at home' in Adelaide, Joondalup and Rockingham count as Innforcer trips?

[Alison]

I'm in!

[Darren]

2014 NRC Fixtures and Tipping

[The InnFORCEr]

Is the "Force" playing?
I think these can only be done InnSpirit

[shasta]

Did I read somewhere that, irrespective of where the Spirit finish, all finals are on the Eastern Seaboard?

[beige]

Did I read somewhere that, irrespective of where the Spirit finish, all finals are on the Eastern Seaboard?

Dunno but that might have been the Pacific Rugby Cup that the Force played in earlier this year?

[shasta]

Probably. Doesn't sound likely. But we are talking ARU here and we know how even-handed they can be.

[jargan83]

Semi finals and Final have venues listed as 1st team venue, 2nd team venue and Top team venue. I'd say that may be a clue.

[Sheikh]

Adelaide Airport Stadium? Google thinks that's an oval somewhere (Thebarton Oval). Not Hindmarsh? I liked Hindmarsh; it was great for rugby

[UnionThug]

Adelaide Airport Stadium? Google thinks that's an oval somewhere (Thebarton Oval). Not Hindmarsh? I liked Hindmarsh; it was great for rugby

Yep thats correct, changed its name in 2013 or something. I mean if they want us to play at a footy ground they could have had us play at Spewbi as the curtain raiser...

[oxleymoron]

Adelaide Airport Stadium? Google thinks that's an oval somewhere (Thebarton Oval). Not Hindmarsh? I liked Hindmarsh; it was great for rugby

Yes it is an oval - was the venue which hosted the southern states u20s tournament and ox academy homegame earlier this year. Thebby Oval has been used to host SA rugby games in the past.

Hindmarsh is available, however the cost of ground hire is too excessive for this match (same case for NiB). Also, the NRC match acts as a curtain raiser for the semi-finals for the Premier Grade comp. By doing this, half of the Adelaide rugby community will be in attendance.

[AndyS]

Seems odd using an Aussie rules ground when they used Gleneagles Reserve for the ARS matches, but I am also a bit surprised at not using Hindmarsh. It wouldn't be clashing with soccer in September, but maybe they are doing some work on it or something - [ah, Ox's post makes considerable sense of it]

Disagree on the curtain raiser. Subi is expensive and would look like sh*t for an NRC game. I doubt anyone would be much inclined to go along early to drink massively overpriced light beer, versus a couple of quiets at the pub and watching the NZ v Argie match. Also, how much of the gate do you reckon the ARU would be handing over to the Spirit as their share, or would it be a donation as they are doing it so tough?

[blueandblack]

I sense road-trips coming on.

Does going to see the Spirit 'at home' in Adelaide, Joondalup and Rockingham count as Innforcer trips?

or maybe bus hire

[.X.]

Is the "Force" playing?
I think these can only be done InnSpirit

Does this mean that TWF is the Spiritual Home of the Perth Spirit?


The Beer Prayer
Our lager,
Which art in barrels,
Hallowed be thy drink,
Thy will be drunk,
(I will be drunk),
At home as I am in the tavern.
Give us this day our foamy head,
And forgive us our spillages,
As we forgive those who spill against us,
and lead us not to incarceration,
But deliver us from hangovers,
For thine is the beer,
The bitter and the lager,
Forever and ever,
Barmen.