Force will field new team
Western Force will field a team in the new domestic rugby competition being launched by the Australian Rugby Union next year.
The Force side will be based around their wider playing group and players from the local RugbyWA competition.
They will be able to field members of their Super Rugby squad and bring in possible future recruitment targets.
The ARU has asked the Force to nominate a side and they will join teams aligned to the Melbourne Rebels and ACT Brumbies.
Expressions of interest will be sought from existing clubs in NSW and Queensland either in their own right or to form a syndicate and are expected to include north and south Brisbane teams, three Sydney sides and potentially a NSW country outfit.
Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry said the new competition would provide a much-needed opportunity for fringe players.
"The major issue for us has been how to bridge the gap between club and Super Rugby," Sinderberry said.
"This will give players on the fringe of moving into the professional game a great opportunity to play at a high level.
"It will provide more playing opportunities for a number of our players and a big advantage for us is that we can we can use our existing structures and maintain and oversee the program."
The much-needed third-tier National Rugby Championship will run from August to October and will mean a change in schedule for the local competition that traditionally holds its finals in September.
The eight or 10-team competition will be self-funded through sponsorship from Fox Sports and Foxtel. Fox Sports will televise one live match per round, the semifinals and final. Team accommodation and travel will be paid for under the sponsorship deal.
Sinderberry said there would be no repeat of the financial disaster that closed down the ill-fated Australian Rugby Championship after one season. The Fox deal is for two years, prospective entities must prove they're financially viable and gate revenue will be a bonus.
Elite Super Rugby players not representing the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship would be expected to play in the NRC.
Applications close on January 13, with successful teams expected to be announced by the end of February.
