2019 National Rugby Championship

2019 National Rugby Championship
Countries	Australia Fiji
Date	31 August – 26 October
Champions	Western Force
Runners-up	Canberra Vikings
Matches played	31
Attendance	57,800 (average 1,865 per match)
Highest attendance	6,500 (Western Force 41-3 Canberra Vikings)
Official website
www.rugby.com.au/competitions/nrc

The 2019 National Rugby Championship was the sixth season of the top flight of Australian domestic rugby union. The competition began on 31 August and concluded on 26 October. The match of the round was broadcast live each week on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports,^[1] with all matches streamed on rugby.com.au live.^[2] The championship featured eight professional teams, seven from Australia and one from Fiji.^[2]

Teams

The eight teams for the 2019 NRC season include two from New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one each from Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Western Australia, and Fiji:

Region	Team	Coach	Captain	Ref
Australian Capital Territory	Canberra Vikings	Nick Scrivener	Darcy Swain	[3]
Fiji	Fijian Drua	Senirusi Seruvakula	Eremasi Radrodro	[4]
New South Wales	NSW Country	Robert Taylor	Ned Hanigan	[5][6]
	Sydney	Chris Whitaker	Lalakai Foketi	[5][6]
Queensland	Brisbane City	Jim McKay	Fraser McReight	[7][8]
	Queensland Country	Rod Seib	Angus Scott-Young	[9]
Victoria	Melbourne Rising	Pom Simona	Semisi Tupou	[10][11]
Western Australia	Western Force	Tim Sampson	Ian Prior	[12]

Television coverage and streaming

One NRC match per round is broadcast live via Fox Sports.^[1] All matches are also shown live on the Kayo Sports and Rugby.com.au streaming platforms.^[2]

Experimental Law Variations

Two new trial variations were included for the 2019 NRC.^[13]

• A 50:22 kick, whereby a team kicking the ball indirectly into touch (i.e. not on the full) is awarded the resulting lineout throw if the ball is kicked: (a) from within the team's own half and finds touch in the opposition's 22; or (b) from within the team's own 22 and finds touch in the opposition's half.
• A goal line drop-out, awarded to the defending team if an attacking player brings the ball into the in-goal and is held up.

NRC Law Variations 2019

Existing Law of the Game	Variation
Television Match Official / Global law trial: Law 5 A match organiser may appoint a television match official (TMO), who uses technological devices to clarify situations relating to: The grounding of the ball in in-goal. Touch or touch-in-goal in the act of grounding the ball or the ball being made dead. Where there is doubt as to whether a kick at goal has been successful. Where match officials believe an infringement may have occurred in the playing area leading to a try or preventing a try. Foul play, including sanctions. Any of the match officials, including the TMO, may recommend a review by the TMO. The reviews will take place in accordance with the TMO protocol.[14]	Television match official to only be consulted about tries and in-goal plays.
Conversion: Law 8 (d) [The kicker] takes the kick within 90 seconds (playing time) from the time the try was awarded, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed.	Time limit reduced to 60 seconds for conversion kicks.
Penalty goal: Law 8 The kick must be taken within 60 seconds (playing time) from the time the team indicated their intention to do so, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed and a scrum is awarded.	Time limit reduced to 45 seconds for penalty kicks.
During a maul: Law 16 The ball-carrier in a maul may go to ground provided that player makes the ball available immediately. Sanction: Scrum. All other players in a maul must endeavour to stay on their feet. All players in a maul must be caught in or bound to it and not just alongside it. Players must not: Intentionally collapse a maul or jump on top of it. Attempt to drag an opponent out of a maul. Sanction: Penalty.	Greater policing of this law, in order to discourage "hold up tackles", by ensuring that the tackler, who holds up a ball carrier in an effort to form a maul, does not collapse the maul as soon as it has formed.
Quick throw: Law 18 A quick throw is disallowed and a lineout is awarded to the same team if: A lineout had already been formed; or The ball had been touched after it went into touch by anyone other than the player throwing in or the player who carried the ball into touch; or A different ball is used from the one that originally went into touch.	Players will be allowed to take quick throw-ins regardless of whether someone else has touched the ball
Lineout: Law 18 Where the game is restarted with a lineout and which team throws in ...	For a 50:22 kick, where the team in possession kicks the ball indirectly into touch from either: (a) within their own half to find touch in the opposition's 22; or (b) from within their own 22 to find touch in the opposition's half; then the throw in to the resulting lineout is awarded to the kicking team at the location where the ball reached the touchline.
Location of a penalty or free kick: Law 20 A penalty or free-kick is taken from where it is awarded or anywhere behind it on a line through the mark and parallel to the touchlines. When a penalty or free-kick is taken at the wrong place, it must be re-taken.	Increased latitude will be given to where penalty and free kicks are to be taken
Ball held up in-goal: Law 21 When a player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal so that the player cannot ground or play the ball, the ball is dead. Play restarts with a five-metre scrum, in line with the place where the player was held up. The attacking team throws in.	Play restarts with a goal-line drop out awarded to the defending team. Rationale: To reward good defence and promote a faster rate of play.
Competition rule - Bonus point awarded for scoring 4 tries	Bonus point awarded if a winning team scores at least 3 more tries than its opponent. This particular system was first used in the French professional leagues during the 2007–08 northern hemisphere season.[15][16]

Regular season

The eight teams competed in a round-robin tournament for the regular season.^[2] During this section of the competition, teams also played for the Horan-Little Shield, a challenge trophy put on the line when a challenge is accepted by the holders or mandated by the terms of the competition.

The regular season standings were determined via a slightly modified version of the standard competition points system— the same system as was used for The Rugby Championship and Super Rugby^[17]—with a bonus point awarded to a winning team scoring at least 3 more tries than their opponent; and a bonus point awarded to a losing team defeated by a margin of 7 points or under. Four points were awarded for a win and none for a loss; two points were awarded to each team for a draw.

Each team's placement was based on its cumulative points total, including any bonus points earned. For teams level on table points, tiebreakers apply in the following order:^[18][19]

1. Difference between points for and against during the season.
2. Head-to-head match result(s) between the tied teams.
3. Total number tries scored during the season.

The top four teams at the end of the regular season qualified for the title play-offs in the form of semi-finals followed by a final to determine the champion team.^[2]

Standings

National Rugby Championship
#	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Western Force	7	6	0	1	285	213	+72	45	31	4	0	28
2	Canberra Vikings	7	5	0	2	238	211	+27	36	33	2	0	22
3	Fijian Drua	7	3	2	2	231	214	+17	33	34	1	0	17
4	Brisbane City	7	3	1	3	214	199	+15	34	29	1	2	17
5	NSW Country HL	7	3	1	3	181	172	+9	28	26	0	2	16
6	Queensland Country	7	3	0	4	205	235	–30	30	35	1	2	15
7	Melbourne Rising	7	2	0	5	206	211	–5	30	33	1	2	11
8	Sydney	7	1	0	6	220	325	−105	34	50	1	1	6
Updated: 12 October 2019 Source: rugbyarchive.net  • Teams 1 to 4 (Green background) at the end of the regular season qualify for the title playoffs. HL denotes the holder of the Horan-Little Shield.

Team progression

	NRC team progression
Team	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7
Brisbane City	2 (4th)	7 (3rd)	8 (4th)	12 (2nd)	12 (4th)	13 (6th)	17 (4th)
Canberra Vikings	5 (1st)	5 (5th)	9 (3rd)	9 (4th)	14 (3rd)	18 (2nd)	22 (2nd)
Fijian Drua	2 (5th)	2 (6th)	4 (7th)	9 (5th)	9 (7th)	13 (5th)	17 (3rd)
Melbourne Rising	0 (8th)	0 (8th)	0 (8th)	5 (8th)	9 (6th)	10 (7th)	11 (7th)
NSW Country	4 (2nd)	8 (2nd)	10 (2nd)	11 (3rd)	15 (2nd)	16 (3rd)	16 (5th)
Queensland Country	1 (6th)	6 (4th)	6 (5th)	6 (6th)	10 (5th)	14 (4th)	15 (6th)
Sydney	1 (7th)	1 (7th)	6 (6th)	6 (7th)	6 (8th)	6 (8th)	6 (8th)
Western Force	4 (3rd)	9 (1st)	14 (1st)	19 (1st)	19 (1st)	23 (1st)	28 (1st)
The table above shows a team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets.
Key:	win	draw	loss	bye

Competition rounds

Round 1

	^FS 31 August	NSW Country	38–33	Sydney	Apex Oval, Dubbo
	12.00pm AEST	Try: Vea (2) 2', 63' Clements 8' Sandell 12' m Bell 16', Grant 69' m Con: Kane (4/6) 3' 9' 17' 64' Cards: Hanigan (YC) 49'	Summary[20]	Try: Swinton 32' Harrison 36' m Vui 50', Foketi 54' Poidevin 79' Con: Harrison (3/4) 33' 51' 55' Donaldson (1/1) 79'	Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

	31 August	Melbourne Rising	22–47	Canberra Vikings	Box Hill Rugby Club, Melbourne
	1.30pm AEST	Try: Masters 55' m Tupou 63' Haylett-Petty 80' Con: Moloney (2/3) 64' 80' Pen: Moloney (1/1) 4'	Summary[21]	Try: Simone 8' Hansen 12' Muirhead 27' Pulu 34', Samu 42' m Lolesio 59', Wright 75' Con: Lonergan (6/7) 9' 13' 28' 35' 60' 76'	Attendance: 750 Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

	31 August	Brisbane City	22–22	Fijian Drua	GPS Rugby Club, Brisbane
	3.00pm AEST	Try: Paisami 9' m Tela 22' Naivalu 38' m Chapman 76' m Con: Lucas (1/4) 22'	Summary[22]	Try: Nacebe (2) 3' m, 62' m Veitayaki 29' Con: Vularika (2/3) 30' 63' Pen: Vularika (1/1) 19'	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

	31 August	Western Force	50–49	Queensland Country	UWA Rugby Park, Perth
	3.00pm AWST	Try: Jooste (2) 25', 57 m Tessmann 8' McGregor 14' Tizzano 34' Hardman 47' m Lee-Warner 63' Placid 74' m Con: Deegan (5/7) 9' 16' 35' 48' 64' Ian Prior (0/1)	Summary[23]	Try: Daugunu (2) 17', 22' Fittock 2' James 11' Blyth 29' McDermott 44' Saifoloi 51' Con: Saifoloi (7/7) 3' 12' 18' 23' 31' 45' 52' Cards: Daugunu (YC) 74'	Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)

Round 2

Horan-Little Challenge	7 September	Fijian Drua	15–38	Western Force	ANZ Stadium, Suva
	3.00pm FJT	Try: Vularika 18' Kurumudu 43' Con: Nacebe (1/1) 23' Pen: Nacebe (1/1) 23'	Summary[24]	Try: Placid (3) 6' 12' m 69' Ferris 24' Ralston 38' Strachan 59' m Con: Deegan (3/5) 7' 25' 39' Prior (1/1) 70'	Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Aaron Pook (Australia)

	^FS 7 September	Melbourne Rising	19–29	NSW Country	Bailey Reserve, Adelaide
	3.30pm ACST	Try: Ukalele 4' Haylett-Petty 40' Marsters 58' Con: Moloney (1/2) 40+1' Tupou (1/1) 59'	Summary[25]	Try: Blacklock (2) 1' 10' Ah Wong 15' Vest 32' Clements 41' Con: Kane (2/5) 11' 15' Cards: Tafa (YC) 76'	Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Matthew Kellahan (Australia)

	8 September	Brisbane City	52–26	Sydney	Bond University, Gold Coast
	1.00pm AEST	Try: Luke (3) 5' m, 44' m, 66' Henry 17', Fe'ao 22' m Wallis 63' Konelio (2) 69' m 75' m Con: Henry (2/5) 19' 64' Lucas (1/3) 68' Pen: Henry (2) 2' 32'	Summary[26]	Try: Graham (2) 19' m, 36' Kioa 28' Swinton 48' Con: Edmed (3/4) 30' 37' 49'	Attendance: 1,500^a Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)

	8 September	Queensland Country	36–23	Canberra Vikings	Bond University, Gold Coast
	3.00pm AEST	Try: Hoopert 5' McDermott 23', Fittock 35' m Francis 53', Stewart 65' m Wilson 73' m Con: Gordon (3/5) 6' 24' 54' Stewart (0/1) Cards: Gordon (YC) 80+1'	Summary[27]	Try: Hansen (2) 26' m, 29' m Muirhead 39' Con: Lonergan (1/3) 40' Pen: Lonergan (2/2) 8' 50' Cards: Wright (YC) 20'	Attendance: 1,500^a Referee: Brett Cronan (Australia)

Round 3

	^FS 14 September	Sydney	47–26	Queensland Country	Woollahra Oval, Sydney
	12.00pm AEST	Try: Clark (2) 26' 33' Foketi (2) 28' 65' m Gamble 2', Burey 51' Graham 57' Con: Harrison (6/7) 2' 27' 30' 35' 52' 58'	Summary[28]	Try: McDermott 8' Saifoloi 15' Fittock 42' Lucas 73' m Con: Saifoloi (3/4) 10' 16' 44'	Attendance: 500 Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

	14 September	Canberra Vikings	36–35	Brisbane City	Viking Park, Canberra
	2.00pm AEST	Try: Ross 17' Gersekowski 21' Muirhead 32' Pulu 40' m, Wright 51' Con: Lonergan (4/5) 18' 22' 32' 52' Pen: Lonergan (1/1) 73' Cards: Gersekowski (YC) 27' Abra (YC) 65'	Summary[29]	Try: Paenga-Amosa (2) 23' 62' Penalty try 37' Tela 46' Tualima 71' Con: Lucas (4/4) 24' 47' 63' 71'	Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Aaron Pook (Australia)

	14 September	NSW Country	24–24	Fijian Drua	WIN Stadium, Wollongong
	4.00pm AEST	Try: Horton 12' m Gordon 33' m Nawaqanitawase 40+6' Grant 80+1' Con: Kane (1/3) 40+8' O'Shea 80+2' Cards: Kane (YC) 73'	Summary[30]	Try: Matawalu 7' Radaniva 18' Tabulawaki 46' Con: Malele (3/3) 7' 19' 47' Pen: Vularika (1/2) 70' Cards: Malele (YC)	Attendance: 1,250 Referee: James Quinn (Australia)

Horan-Little Challenge	15 September	Western Force	38–19	Melbourne Rising	UWA Rugby Park, Perth
	3.00pm AWST	Try: Ralston (3) 3' m, 23' 32' Stander 43', Ready 52' Bardoul 79' m Con: Prior (4/5) 24' 34' 44' 53' Deegan (0/1) Cards: Deegan (YC) 45'	Summary[31]	Try: Iona 11' Hardwick 46' Fa'amausili 71' m Con: So'oialo (2/2) 12' 47' Iona (0/1)	Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

Round 4

	^FS 21 September	Fijian Drua	76–29	Sydney	Churchill Park, Lautoka
	2.00pm FJT	Try: Dyer (2) 23' 44' Radrodro (2) 46' 67' Wainiqolo 71' 73' Matawalu 6', Nasova 13' Koroiduadua 76' m Tikotani 79', Navori 80' m Con: Tikotani (9/11) 7' 14' 24' 45' 47' 68' 72' 75' 80' Pen: Tikotani (1/1) 39'	Summary[32]	Try: Craig (2) 3' 17' m Foketi (2) 40' 42' m Gamble 57' m Con: Harrison (2/5) 4' 40'	Attendance: 2,750 Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

Horan-Little Challenge	21 September	Western Force	45–28	Canberra Vikings	UWA Rugby Park, Perth
	3.00pm AWST	Try: Placid (2) 27' m, 53' Ralston 2' Thrush 8' Stander 46' m Feke 67', Kaitu'u 71' Con: Prior (5/7) 3' 9' 54' 68' 72'	Summary[33]	Try: Muirhead 10' L·Lonergan 31' Ikatau 52' Enever 62' Con: Lolesio (4/4) 11' 33' 53' 64' Cards: Samu (YC) 57'	Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Aaron Pook (Australia)

	22 September	Melbourne Rising	49–7	Queensland Country	Mars Stadium, Ballarat
	1.00pm AEST	Try: Marsters (2) 5' 18' Tupou (2) 75' 80' Potter 52', Iona 58' Sooaemalelagi 66' Con: So'oialo (7/7) 6' 19' 53' 60' 67' 78' 80'	Summary[34]	Try: Saifoloi 45' Con: Saifoloi (1/1) 46'	Attendance: 500 Referee: James Quinn (Australia)

	22 September	Brisbane City	24–19	NSW Country	Ballymore, Brisbane
	4.00pm AEST	Try: Chapman (2) 25' 73' Paenga-Amosa 19' Naivalu 30' Con: Lucas (2/4) 20' 74'	Summary[35]	Try: Nawaqanitawase 57' Walton 80' Grant 80+1' Con: O'Shea (2/3) 80' 80+2' Cards: Staniforth (YC) 24'	Attendance: 2,700 Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)

Round 5

	^FS 28 September	Canberra Vikings	41–28	Fijian Drua	Viking Park, Canberra
	12.00pm AEST	Try: Pulu (2) 12' m, 27' m Banks (2) 40' 66' Wright 7' m Lonergan 51' Hansen 75' m Con: Lonergan (2/5) 40' 52' Kuenzle (1/2) 67'	Summary[36]	Try: Dyer 17' Radaniva 34' Radrodro 45' Narequva 78' Con: Malele (3/3) 17' 35' 46' Dyer (1/1) 79'	Attendance: 1,600 Referee: James Quinn (Australia)

	28 September	Queensland Country	42–26	Brisbane City	Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone
	4.00pm AEST	Try: Wilson (2) 11' 19' McDermott (2) 24' 69' Boardman 28' Daugunu 58' Con: Saifoloi (6/6) 12' 21' 26' 29' 59' 70' Cards: Daugunu (YC) 78'	Summary[37]	Try: Lucas (2) 39' 72' Paenga-Amosa 55' m McReight 62' Con: Lucas (3/4) 40' 63' 73' Cards: Ryan Smith (YC) 18'	Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Aaron Pook (Australia)

	29 September	Sydney	26–40	Melbourne Rising	Forshaw Park, Sydney
	1.00pm AEST	Try: Vui 19' Short 49' C. Abel 69' m Marr 77' Con: Harrison (3/4) 20' 70' 78'	Summary[38]	Try: Rangi (2) 3' 15' Marsters (2) 26' 53' Acheson 39' Tuimalealiifano 65' m Con: So'oialo (4/4) 5' 16' 28' 40', Iona (0/1) Cards: Marsters (YC) 69'	Attendance: 750 Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)

Horan-Little Challenge	29 September	NSW Country	38–24	Western Force	Regional Stadium, Port Macquarie
	3.00pm AEST	Try: Nawaqanitawase 6' Gordon 10' Penalty try 31' Ah Wong 59', Woollett 67' Con: Mason (1/1) 7' O'Shea (3/3) 11' 60' 68' Pen: O'Shea (1/1) 78' Cards: Champion de Crespigny (YC) 16'	Summary[39]	Try: Tessmann 18' Feke 42' Kaitu'u 63' Placid 70' Con: Prior 19' (1/3) Andrew Deegan (1/1) 70' Cards: Tessmann (YC) 23'	Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Dru Tonks (Australia)

Round 6

	^FS 5 October	Canberra Vikings	36–26	Sydney	Viking Park, Canberra
	12.00pm AEST	Try: Wright (2) 31' 56' m Swain 4' m Hansen 7' Banks 40+1' m Penalty try 74' Con: Kuenzle (2/5) 7' 33' Cards: Powell (YC) 15'	Summary[40]	Try: Penalty try 14' McCauley 20' Sinclair 68' Moore 80' m Con: Harrison (2/2) 21' 69' Donaldson (0/1) Cards: Harrison (YC) 74'	Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Brett Cronan (Australia)

	5 October	Melbourne Rising	36–40	Fijian Drua	Casey Fields, Melbourne
	5.30pm AEST	Try: Tuimalealiifano (2) 18' 36' m Ukalele 9', Gibbon 32' Penalty try 73' Con: So'oialo (3/4) 11' 20' 33' Pen: So'oialo (1/1) 62'	Summary[41]	Try: Wainiqolo (2) 49' 75' m Nacebe 4', Reece 43' Navuma 51' Vularika 63' Con: Malele (5/6) 6' 44' 50' 53' 64' Cards: Nasova (YC) 60'	Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

	6 October	Queensland Country	21–14	NSW Country	Bond University, Gold Coast
	3.00pm AEST	Try: Boardman 58' James 68' Stewart 74' Con: Saifoloi (3/3) 59' 70' 75' Cards: Hoopert (YC) 16'	Summary[42]	Try: Gordon 19' Tuala 24' Con: O'Shea (2/2) 21' 25'	Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

	6 October	Western Force	33–31	Brisbane City	UWA Rugby Park, Perth
	3.00pm AWST	Try: Tessmann 10' Placid 34' Thrush 40+2' Sheminant 46' Kaitu'u 61' m Con: Deegan (4/5) 11' 35' 40+4' 46' Cards: Orr (YC) 79'	Summary[43]	Try: Luke (2) 76' m 79' m Uru 21' Lucas 31' Korczyk 67 Con: Hegarty (3/5) 22' 32' 68' Cards: Konelio (YC) 60'	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: James Quinn (Australia)

Round 7

	11 October	Canberra Vikings	27–19	NSW Country	Viking Park, Canberra
	6.00pm AEDT	Try: Pulu 11' Ikitau 29' Samu 43' Banks 52' Con: Lonergan (2/4) 44' 53' Pen: Lonergan (1/1) 15'	Summary[44]	Try: Nawaqanitawase 5' Jones 57' Gordon 64' Con: O'Shea (2/3) 7' 65' Cards: Horton (YC) 37'	Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)

	^FS 12 October	Sydney	33–57	Western Force	Woollahra Oval, Sydney
	12.00pm AEDT	Try: Reilly 14' Penalty try 53' Harrison 64' m McCauley 72' Con: Harrison (2/3) 15' 73'	Summary[45]	Try: Fou (2) 22' 43' Ralston (2) 38' 48' m Deegan 5', Lloyd 24' Kaitu'u 57' m, Tizzano 67' Miller 75' m Con: Deegan (5/6) 6' 23' 26' 44' 49' Strachan (1/3) 68' Cards: Placid (YC) 32' Meo (YC) 72'	Attendance: 750 Referee: Dru Tonks (Australia)

	12 October	Fijian Drua	26–24	Queensland Country	Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
	3.00pm FJT	Try: Dyer 23' Kurumudu 31' Waqatabu 39' Wainiqolo 80' m Con: Malele (3/4) 24' 32' 40' Cards: Viriviri (YC) 79'	Summary[46]	Try: Wilson 9' Fittock 13' Penalty try 66' Con: Saifoloi (2/2) 11' 14' Pen: Saifoloi (1/2) 35' Cards: Felemi (YC) 25' Hockings (YC) 29'	Attendance: 2,500 Referee: James Quinn (Australia)

	12 October	Brisbane City	24–21	Melbourne Rising	Easts Rugby Club, Brisbane
	3.00pm AEST	Try: Tela 10' m Paenga-Amosa 15' m Lucas 33', Wallis 38' Con: Hegarty (2/4) 34' 39' Cards: Van Nek (YC) 40+2' Naivalu (YC) 75' Hegarty (YC) 78'	Summary[47]	Try: Penalty try 40+2' Leota 53' Haisila 78' Con: So'oialo (2/2) 54' 78'	Attendance: 2,250 Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

Title playoffs

	Semi-finals					Final
	Western Force		42
	Brisbane City		38
						Western Force		41
						Canberra Vikings		3
	Canberra Vikings		28
	Fijian Drua		27

Semi-finals

	^FS 19 October	Western Force	42–38	Brisbane City	UWA Rugby Park, Perth
	12.00pm AWST	Try: Fines (2) 44' 54' Fou (2) 49' 58' Placid 8' Deegan 39' Con: Deegan (6/6) 9' 40' 45' 50' 55' 59' Cards: Thrush (YC) 22'	Summary[48]	Try: Ngauamo (2) 68' 76' Uru 13' Paenga-Amosa 22' Henry 79' Con: Hegarty (5/5) 14' 24' 68' 77' 79' Pen: Hegarty (1/1) 49'	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

	^FS 20 October	Canberra Vikings	28–27	Fijian Drua	Viking Park, Canberra
	3.00pm AEDT	Try: Wright (2) 42' 51' Allen 47' Banks 80+1' Con: Lonergan (4/4) 43' 48' 52' 80+3'	Summary[49]	Try: Naulago 12' Vularika 30' m Ikanivere 37' Navuma 63' Con: Malele (2/4) 12' 38' Pen: Malele (1/1) 3'	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)

Final

	^FS 26 October	Western Force	41–3	Canberra Vikings	UWA Rugby Park, Perth
	12.00pm AWST	Try: Lee-Warner (2) 30' c, 40' m Jooste 45' c Tessmann 58' c Thrush 67' m Placid 71' c Con: Deegan (4/6) 31', 46', 58', 72' Pen: Deegan (1/1) 49'	Summary[50]	Pen: Lonergan (1/1) 16'	Attendance: 6,500 Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

Western Force

Canberra Vikings

Team details

FB 15 Jack McGregor RW 14 Byron Ralston OC 13 Pama Fou  60' IC 12 Nick Jooste  72' LW 11 Jonah Placid FH 10 Andrew Deegan (c) SH 9 Issak Fines  72' N8 8 Brynard Stander OF 7 Carlo Tizzano BF 6 Henry Stowers  58' RL 5 Jeremy Thrush LL 4 Fergus Lee-Warner  72' TP 3 Tom Sheminant  68' HK 2 Heath Tessmann  58' LP 1 Harrison Lloyd  54' Replacements: HK 16 Andrew Ready  58' PR 17 Cameron Orr  54' PR 18 Dominic Hardman  68' LK 19 Ben Grant  72' FL 20 Tevin Ferris  58' SH 21 Rory O'Sullivan  72' FH 22 Chris Tuatara-Morrison  72' UB 23 Jake Strachan  60' Coach: Tim Sampson FB 15 Tom Banks  72' RW 14 Tom Wright OC 13 Len Ikitau IC 12 Irae Simone LW 11 Andy Muirhead FH 10 Noah Lolesio  68' SH 9 Ryan Lonergan  54' N8 8 Angus Allen  61' OF 7 Will Miller BF 6 Pete Samu RL 5 Nick Frost LL 4 Blake Enever (c)  49' TP 3 Angus Wagner  58' HK 2 Lachlan Lonergan  68' LP 1 Bo Abra  49' Replacements: HK 16 TP Luteru  68' PR 17 Fred Kaihea  49' PR 18 Tom Ross  58' LK 19 Will Sankey  49' FL 20 Luke Gersekowski  61' SH 21 Joe Powell  54' FH 22 Bayley Kuenzle  68' OB 23 Lincoln Smith  72' Coach: Nick Scrivener Man of the Match (Phil Waugh Medal): Fergus Lee-Warner [51] Assistant Referees: Graham Cooper (Australia) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Alexander Ninkov (Australia) [52]

Season attendances

Team	Matches hosted	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest
Brisbane City	4	9,450	2,363	3,000	1,500
Canberra Vikings	5	8,100	1,620	3,000	1,000
Fijian Drua	3	6,750	2,250	2,750	1,500
Melbourne Rising	4	5,250	1,313	2,000	500
NSW Country Eagles	3	3,750	1,250	1,500	1,000
Queensland Country	3	5,000	1,667	2,000	1,500
Sydney	3	2,000	667	750	500
Western Force	6	19,000	3,167	6,500	1,500
Totals (8 teams)	31	57,800	1,865	6,500	500

NRC Division 2

The NRC II tournament was hosted by Rugby Union South Australia on 26–29 September in Adelaide as a competition for member unions and regions in Rugby Australia without a pathway to professional rugby via the main National Rugby Championship.^[53] The tournament was a reprisal of sorts of the Australian Rugby Shield which had been disbanded ten years earlier, and most of the representative teams which had featured in the Shield were invited to participate in NRC Division 2 in 2019. The eight teams scheduled to play in the tournament were:^[53]

• Northern Territory Mosquitoes ^W/D
• NSW Country Cockatoos
• Perth Gold
• Queensland Country Heelers
• South Australia Black Falcons
• South Australia U23
• Tasmania Jack Jumpers
• Victoria Country Barbarians

Third place

	29 September	Queensland Country Heelers	31–5	South Australia Black Falcons	Woodville, South Australia

Div 2 final

	29 September	Perth Gold	15–5	NSW Country Cockatoos	Woodville, South Australia

Notes

^^FS Fox Sports broadcast match.

^^W/D The Northern Territory Mosquitoes team was a late withdrawal from the NRC II for 2019 and did not compete in the tournament.

References

1. "New laws to shake up National Rugby Championship". Fox Sports. 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
2. "NRC teams spread their wings in 2019". Rugby Australia. 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
3. "'We've got a point to prove': Darcy Swain and Vikings ready for NRC". Canberra Times. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
4. Nasokia, Waisea (22 August 2019). "Eremasi Radrodro leads Fijian Drua to the National Rugby Championship". The Fiji Sun. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019.
5. Payten, Iain (16 July 2019). "Sydney, NSW Country name coaches; Tahs may recruit Foley replacement". Rugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019.
6. "NRC captains welcome rule changes in 2019 tournament". rugby.com.au. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
7. "Brisbane City team staff announced for 2019 National Rugby Championship". Reds Rugby. 2 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019.
8. "Brisbane City announce squad for 2019 National Rugby Championship". Queensland Rugby Union. 26 August 2019.
9. "Bond University Queensland Country squad announced for 2019 National Rugby Championship". Queensland Rugby Union. 26 August 2019.
10. "Pom Simona Revealed as Rising Head Coach". Melbourne Rebels. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
11. "Tupou to lead Rising for 2019". Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
12. "Strong squad named for NRC". Western Force. 26 August 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019.
13. Greenwood, Emma. "Coaches' tactical response to NRC law variations to be interesting: Scrivener". Rugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019.
14. "Television Match Official (TMO) Global Trial Protocol" (PDF). World Rugby. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
15. "French try out new bonus point system". Planet-Rugby.com. 27 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2007.
16. "Règlements de la Ligue Nationale de Rugby 2008/2009" (PDF). LNR (in French). Chapitre 2 : Règlement sportif du Championnat de France Professionnel, Article 330, Section 3.2. Points "terrain". Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
17. "Rugby Championship to adopt bonus-point system used by Super Rugby". Sky Sports. Reuters. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
18. McKay, Brett (11 October 2019). "McKay column: The last-round NRC finals equations". rugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019.
19. McKay, Brett. "NRC tie breaker method". Green and Gold Rugby. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016.
20. "NSW Country Eagles vs Sydney". rugby.com.au. 31 August 2019.
21. "Melbourne Rising vs Canberra Vikings". rugby.com.au. 31 August 2019.
22. "Brisbane City vs Fijian Drua". rugby.com.au. 31 August 2019.
23. "Western Force vs Queensland Country". rugby.com.au. 31 August 2019.
24. "Fijian Drua vs Western Force". rugby.com.au. 7 September 2019.
25. "Melbourne Rising vs NSW Country". rugby.com.au. 7 September 2019.
26. "Brisbane City vs Sydney". rugby.com.au. 8 September 2019.
27. "Queensland Country vs Canberra Vikings". rugby.com.au. 8 September 2019.
28. "Sydney vs Queensland Country". rugby.com.au. 14 September 2019.
29. "Canberra Vikings vs Brisbane City". rugby.com.au. 14 September 2019.
30. "NSW Country vs Fijian Drua". rugby.com.au. 14 September 2019.
31. "Western Force vs Melbourne Rising". rugby.com.au. 15 September 2019.
32. "Fijian Drua vs Sydney". rugby.com.au. 21 September 2019.
33. "Western Force vs Canberra Vikings". rugby.com.au. 21 September 2019.
34. "Melbourne Rising vs Queensland Country". rugby.com.au. 22 September 2019.
35. "Brisbane City vs NSW Country". rugby.com.au. 22 September 2019.
36. "Canberra Vikings vs Fijian Drua". rugby.com.au. 28 September 2019.
37. "Queensland Country vs Brisbane City". rugby.com.au. 28 September 2019.
38. "Sydney vs Melbourne Rising". rugby.com.au. 29 September 2019.
39. "NSW Country vs Western Force". rugby.com.au. 29 September 2019.
40. "Canberra Vikings vs Sydney". rugby.com.au. 5 October 2019.
41. "Melbourne Rising vs Fijian Drua". rugby.com.au. 5 October 2019.
42. "Queensland Country vs NSW Country". rugby.com.au. 6 October 2019.
43. "Western Force vs Brisbane City". rugby.com.au. 6 October 2019.
44. "Canberra Vikings vs NSW Country". rugby.com.au. 11 October 2019.
45. "Sydney vs Western Force". rugby.com.au. 12 October 2019.
46. "Fijian Drua vs Queensland Country". rugby.com.au. 12 October 2019.
47. "Brisbane City vs Melbourne Rising". rugby.com.au. 12 October 2019.
48. "Western Force vs Brisbane City". rugby.com.au. 19 October 2019.
49. "Canberra Vikings vs Fijian Drua". rugby.com.au. 20 October 2019.
50. "Western Force vs Canberra Vikings". rugby.com.au. 26 October 2019.
51. "Force hammer Vikings for NRC Championship". Yahoo Sports. 26 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019.
52. "Referees to 27 October 2019". SA Referees. 22 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019.
53. "NRCII Tournament Comes to Adelaide". Rugby Union SA. 5 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019.

External links

• NRC Archived 5 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine on Rugby.com.au
• NRC on Fox Sports
• NRC Live on twitter.com

Team webpages

• Brisbane City
• Canberra Vikings
• Fijian Drua
• Melbourne Rising
• NSW Country
• Queensland Country
• Sydney
• Western Force