About the Mazda ARC

The new Mazda Australian Rugby Championship kicks off this year on 10th August, with the Final on 14th October to decide the inaugural Champions.  Featuring more than 90 contracted professional players competing for teams from Western Australia, the ACT, Victoria, NSW and Queensland, the Australian Rugby Championship promises to be a national Rugby competition that is second to none.

Waratahs centre and 20 test cap Wallaby Morgan Turinui and fellow former Wallaby and current Brumbies lock Alister Campbell were in attendance at the major sponsor unveiling at North Sydney Oval.       

“The ARC will open doors for a number of players moving through the club or Academy systems,” Morgan Turinui said. "New Zealand has the Provincial competition and South Africa the Currie Cup and it’s good to see a similar tier of competition now in Australia,” he said.
 
The ARU has established the ARC to provide a much-needed stepping-stone between club rugby and the elite level of the game. More than 550 applications were received from players around the country to take part in the ARC which is a fantastic response to this landmark national competition

A number of Super 14 players will star in the Australian Rugby Championship.

Stirling Mortlock on ARC
“The ARC is vital for the growth of the game in this country. Previously there has been a wide gap in standard between Club Rugby and the Super 14. The ARC will bridge that gap and provide players with a quality competition to develop their game before they make the step up to Super 14 level”.

George Gregan on ARC
“It’s a great result for the game. The ARC will provide players who are just below Super 14 level with a professional training structure and make them better prepared to make the step up to full-time professional rugby. There is now a clear pathway for players from club rugby through to the Wallabies.”

See more details of each team competing in the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship: