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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
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
I sense road-trips coming on.
Does going to see the Spirit 'at home' in Adelaide, Joondalup and Rockingham count as Innforcer trips?
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Is the "Force" playing?
I think these can only be done InnSpirit![]()
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Did I read somewhere that, irrespective of where the Spirit finish, all finals are on the Eastern Seaboard?
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
Probably. Doesn't sound likely. But we are talking ARU here and we know how even-handed they can be.![]()
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
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.
Adelaide Airport Stadium? Google thinks that's an oval somewhere (Thebarton Oval). Not Hindmarsh? I liked Hindmarsh; it was great for rugby
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
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.
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?
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.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa