Australian Rugby Union GM of Professional Rugby, Marketing & Operations Rob Clarke has "hailed
the inaugural National Rugby Championship an 'overwhelming success' and
has predicted it will grow in the future," according to Bret Harris of THE AUSTRALIAN. The ARU set up the NRC this season seven years after the "ill-fated
Australian Rugby Championship sunk with debts" of A$5M after just
one year. Clarke said that the NRC's financial model "ensured there was
no repeat of the ARC's money problems, while the development competition
delivered on the field, culminating in Brisbane City’s 37-26 win
against Perth Spirit at Ballymore on Saturday." Clarke: "Given the objectives of this NRC and the stated goals, I think it has been an overwhelming success. It appears ... that the financial controls put in place have ensured
nobody has suffered significant financial burden. I think we are off to
a great start." He added, "The stated objective of giving more time on the field to contracted
player who may not have seen much activity during Super Rugby and to
provide local aspiring club players the opportunity to play in better
company at a higher level, then I think it certainly achieved both of
those things." Clarke was "unsure of the TV ratings on Fox Sports, but said crowd
figures had met expectations with 65,473 spectators in the regular
season." The ARU was conducting a review of the NRC to "find out ways to improve the competition next year." Clarke expected the "same nine teams to compete again next year, but did not rule out expansion of the competition in the future" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/5).
