# Australian Rugby Championship

The Australian Rugby Championship, often abbreviated to the ARC and also known as the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship for sponsorship purposes, was a domestic professional men's rugby union football competition in Australia, which ran for only one season in 2007. It was the predecessor to the also now-defunct National Rugby Championship. The competition, similar to New Zealand's ITM Cup and South Africa's Currie Cup, aimed to bridge the gap between existing club rugby and the international Super Rugby competition then known as Super 14. The ARC involved eight teams: three from New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one each from the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Western Australia.
From its inception the ARC divided many in Australian rugby, with arguments over the structure and format of the competition, and concerns that the creation of arbitrary state-based teams would undermine the strong club competitions in Sydney and Brisbane. On 18 December 2007, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) announced that the ARC would be shut down due to heavy financial losses: the ARC lost A$4.7 million during the 2007 season, with projected losses of $3.3 million for 2008.
On 10 December 2013, Bill Pulver, the CEO of the Australian Rugby Union, announced a new competition along similar lines, the National Rugby Championship, to include 8 to 10 teams in "major population centres".

## History

The official announcement on the agreement to create a national rugby competition in Australia was made in mid-2006, following a 70-person three-day summit in Sydney that agreed to an eight team competition. However, the competition was not without its share of controversy, with some of the strong state-level clubs being against the formation of a new level of competition, claiming it could harm club and grassroots rugby. In September, an ARU board meeting, after hearing these concerns, officially approved the new competition.
A month later, the competition kicked off, however the Queensland teams performed poorly as the East Coast Aces and Ballymore Tornadoes finished last and second last respectively.
The Perth Spirit performed the best out of the regular rounds winning six out of eight games, but due to bonus points finished third on the ladder behind the Central Coast Rays and minor premiers the Western Sydney Rams.
After the top four teams took part in the semi-finals, the Melbourne Rebels and Central Coast Rays would compete in the first and last ARC Grand Final: the Rays defeated the Rebels 20–12 to win the premiership.
After a review of the ARC was undertaken following the 2007 season, it was found that it had run $1.3 million over budget and had lost $4.7 million for the 2007 season, with forecast losses for a 2008 season coming to a further $3.3 million. The ARU, concluding that a cumulative loss of $8 million over two years would be fiscal irresponsibility and that it was likely there would be further heavy future losses beyond 2008, immediately decided to shut down the competition.

### Final

Details for the only season held:
| Year | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Losing semi-finalists | Losing semi-finalists |
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue | City | 1st | 2nd |
| 2007 | Central Coast Rays | 20–12 | Melbourne Rebels | Bluetongue Stadium | Gosford, NSW | Perth Spirit | Western Sydney Rams |

## Format
### Competition

The competition ran for eight weeks, with finals being competed over an additional two weeks - each side played eight games, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals where the winners move into the final. The competition kicked off in August, after the Super 14 and the March to July club competitions finished, and avoiding a clash with Australian under-19 and under-21 duties and the Pacific Nations Cup (in which Australia A played). In total, 35 matches were played in the ARC over 10 weeks from 11 August and 14 October, with games played on Fridays and Sundays. It was originally planned that games would not be played at 'traditional' times for rugby matches, but this decision was changed when the ABC insisted that its televised games be played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The inaugural final was played between the Central Coast Rays and the Melbourne Rebels in Gosford.

### Players

The timeframe of the season ensured the availability of Super 14 players (excluding Wallabies). There was no draft, and players were free to choose their team, although there was a salary cap in place. Players came from local competitions (which includes Super 14 players). Each Super 14 franchise was aligned with the respective teams, except for Melbourne, as Victoria had no Super rugby team at the time.
It was planned that although 35 footballers will be on international duty for the Wallabies, over 90 Super 14 players would go into the ARC, leaving the way for over 120 footballers to step up from first grade club competitions.
It was also planned that each team would have one "marquee" footballer not be subject to financial restrictions of the player contracting protocol. The player could be either foreign or a non-contracted domestic footballer, and if a team signed an Australian as their marquee footballer, they would still be able to sign up a foreign footballer, though they would have to fit within the contract restrictions.

### Rules

The ARU announced in June 2007 that the inaugural championship would adopt the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), which were initially trialled at South Africa's Stellenbosch University and which aim to bring more free-flowing play into the game. The laws were implemented in both the Sydney and Brisbane club competitions and were well received.

### Referees

The referees supplied for the tournament predominantly come from the Australian Rugby Union Panels.
Referees for the tournament included: Matt Goddard, James Leckie, James Scholtens, George Ayoub, Daniel Cheever, Brett Bowden, Andrew Lindsay and Geoff Acton.
Stuart Dickinson and Paul Marks did not referee in the tournament, as they refereed at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

## Media coverage

The Championship was broadcast on free-to-air television during its only season. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) secured the rights to exclusively televise the competition from 2007 through to 2009 by agreeing to accept a substantial fee from the ARU in order to cover the matches.
The fact that the sport's governing organisation had to pay a television station to broadcast the Championship arguably left worrying implications for a code that was struggling to attract mainstream interest in Australia. The ABC committed to broadcast 19 matches during the season on ABC1 and ABC2: two matches from each round, the semi-finals and the final.
The previous time the ABC had covered elite-level rugby was for the 1991 Rugby World Cup (which Australia won).

## Regular season 2007

The eight teams played four home games and four away games each during the preliminary competition rounds, consisting of a single round-robin with each team playing each other once plus an additional return match for the "derby" fixture played in the first round (these fixtures were matches between the closest neighbouring teams in most cases). The top four teams at the end of the preliminary competition rounds qualified for the title play-offs with semi-finals and finals.

### Standings

2007 Australian Rugby Championship :
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Western Sydney Rams | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 239 | 149 | +90 | 5 | 2 | 27 |
| 2 | Central Coast Rays | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 268 | 159 | +109 | 5 | 1 | 26 |
| 3 | Perth Spirit | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 210 | 138 | +72 | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| 4 | Melbourne Rebels | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 170 | 206 | −36 | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| 5 | Sydney Fleet | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 212 | 244 | −32 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| 6 | Canberra Vikings | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 217 | 191 | +26 | 4 | 3 | 19 |
| 7 | Ballymore Tornadoes | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 180 | 229 | −49 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 8 | East Coast Aces | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 163 | 343 | −180 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Updated: 30 September 2007 Source: rugbyarchive.net  • Teams 1 to 4 (Green background) at the end of the preliminary competition rounds qualify for the Title play-offs. |||||||||||||||
| Four points for a win, two for a draw. One bonus point for four tries or more (TB) and one bonus point for losing by seven or fewer (LB). If teams are level on points in the standings at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:  • Difference between points for and against  • Total number of points for  • Number of matches won  • Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams |||||||||||||||

### Competition rounds
#### Round 8
## Title play-offs 2007

The top four sides in the regular season advanced to the knock-out stage of semi-finals and final to decide the Australian Rugby Championship title.

### Grand Final
## Players 2007
### Squad lists

Team squad lists for the 2007 ARC:
    2007 Ballymore Tornadoes squad – ARC   Props Ben Coutts THP (Souths)* Greg Holmes LHP (Sunnybank)* Peter Loane THP (Norths) Brett Naylor THP (GPS) Shon Siemonek LHP (Sunshine Coast) Ernest Skelton LHP (Wests)* Hookers Geoff Abram HK (Wests)* Sean Hardman HK (Brothers) Joshua Mann-Rea HK (Easts) Locks Jared Hanna LK (Wests) James Horwill LK (University)* Tristan Hill LK (Norths) Daniel Linde LK (University)** Ed O'Donoghue LK (Wests)*   Loose forwards Leroy Houston BR (Sydney)* Steve Miller BR (GPS) Tom McVerry BR (GPS) Captain* Ray Stowers BR (Norths) Scott Higginbotham N8 (Wests)** Charles Wyllie N8 (Sunshine Coast) Scrum-halves Sam Cordingley SH (Brothers)* Will Genia SH (GPS)* Brendan McKibbin SH (Brothers)** Fly-halves David Collis FH (Sydney) Berrick Barnes FH (Wests)* Peter Hynes FH WG (University)*   Centres Blair Connor CE WG (Norths)** Brett Gillespie CE (University)** Byron Roberts OB (GPS) Tim Sampson CE (Sunnybank) Donovan Slade CE (GPS) Wings Paul Doneley OB (Brothers) Elia Tuqiri WG FH (GPS) Anthony Sauer OB (Brothers) Fullbacks Clinton Schifcofske FB (Wests)* * Contracted Queensland Reds player ** Reds Academy player
    2007 Canberra Vikings – ARC   Props Nic Henderson Jack Kennedy Pauliasi Tomoepeau John Ulugia Hookers Saia Fainga'a Anthony Hegarty Dan Raymond Locks Alister Campbell Peter Kimlin Leon Power Adam Wallace-Harrison   Back row Jarred Barry Mark Chisholm Dan Guinness Julian Salvi Jone Tawake Henry Vanderglas Halfbacks Beau Mokotupu Nick Haydon Patrick Phibbs Flyhalves Christian Lealiifano   Centres Tim Cornforth Matthew Carraro Anthony Fainga'a Gene Fairbanks Rowan Kellam Wings Francis Fainifo Solomona Fainifo Eddie Mclaughlin Fullbacks Tim Wright
    2007 Central Coast Rays squad – ARC   Props Al Baxter† Ofa Fainga’anuku Nick Lah Rod Moore‡ Aaron Tawera Hookers Alex Gluth Al Manning Dustin McGregor Locks John Adams Nifo Nifo Chris Thompson Cameron Treloar   Loose forwards Ross Duncan Steve Evans Jared Waerea-Hargreaves Jason Peseta Wycliff Palu† Vili Ratu Beau Robinson Dylan Sigg Scrum-halves Brett Sheehan Fly-halves Clint Eadie David Harvey Sam Norton-Knight   Centres Sam Harris Ben Jacobs Wings Jordan Macey Pat McCabe Jye Mullane Andrew Smith Fullbacks Peter Hewat † Player not in initial squad ‡ Did not play
    2007 East Coast Aces squad – ARC   Props Lloyd Campbell-McBride (Easts) Tama Tuirirangi (Gold Coast) Ben Coutts (Souths) Joe Tufuga (Sunnybank) Hookers Jade Ingham (Easts) Ole Avei (Sunnybank) Locks Will Munsie (Gold Coast) Luke Caughley (Gold Coast) Rob Simmons (Sunnybank)   Back row Ben Mowen (Easts) Daniel Ese (Gold Coast) A.J. Gilbert (Souths) Josh Afu (Sunnybank) Halfbacks Nic Berry (Sunnybank) Sam Batty (Gold Coast) Flyhalves Ben Lucas (Sunnybank) Quade Cooper (Souths)   Centres Lloyd Johansson (Gold Coast) Captain Waitai Walker (Sunnybank) Charlie Fetoai (Souths) Henari Veratau (Sunnybank) Wings Caleb Brown (Gold Coast) Brett Stapleton (Gold Coast) Fullbacks Chris Latham (Gold Coast) Andrew Walker (Easts) Marshall Milroy (Gold Coast) John Dart (Sunnybank)
    2007 Melbourne Rebels squad – ARC   Props Scott Cameron PR (Sydney Uni) Heamani Lavaka PR (Easts, Sydney) Dan Palmer THP (Southern Districts) Mike Ross PR (Easts, Sydney) Hookers Nick Churven HK (GPS) James Hanson HK (UQ) Nick Hensley HK (Sydney Uni) Locks Matt Cockbain FL, LK (GPS) Liam Shaw LK (Brothers) Richard Stanford LK (Brumbies)   Loose forwards David Croft FL (Reds, Brothers) Captain David Dennis FL (Waratahs) Dave Haigh FL (Sydney Uni) David Haydon FL (Sydney Uni) Matt Hodgson FL (Force ) Shawn Mackay FL (Randwick) Filipe Manu N8 (Souths, Brisbane) Scrum-halves Luke Burgess SH (Waratahs) Jon McGrath SH (Force ) Fly-halves Michael Hobbs FH (UQ) Dan Kelly FH (Sydney Uni)   Centres Luke Cross CE (GPS) Jack Farrer CE (Sydney Uni) James Lew CE (Norths, Sydney) Wings Digby Ioane WG, CE (Reds) Peter Playford WG, CE (Brumbies) Peter Owens WG (Sydney Uni) Nathan Trist WG (Sydney Uni) Fullbacks Damon Murphy WG, FB (Brothers)
    2007 Perth Spirit squad – ARC   Props Pekahou Cowan PR Gareth Hardy PR Kieran Longbottom THP Troy Takiari PR AJ Whalley PR Hookers Luke Holmes HK Tai McIsaac HK Ryan Tyrrell HK Locks Tom Hockings LK Sitaleki Timani LK Rudi Vedelago LK Luke Doherty LK BR Scott Fardy LK BR   Back row Scott Fava BR Will Bloem FL Richard Brown N8 David Pocock OF Halfbacks Matt Henjak SH Captain James Stannard SH Flyhalves Scott Daruda FH Todd Feather FH Jimmy Hilgendorf FH Lachlan MacKay FH CE   Centres Ryan Cross CE Junior Pelesasa CE Kane Allen OB Wings Ed Jenkins WG Jackson Mullane WG Dan Bailey OB Nick Cummins OB Haig Sare OB Ratu Siganiyavi WG Fullbacks Cameron Shepherd FB WG Luke McLean FB
    2007 Sydney Fleet squad – ARC   Props Sean Baker (Randwick) Dayna Edwards (Randwick) Jeremy Tilse (Sydney Uni) Laurie Weeks (Sydney Uni) Hookers Atonio Halangahu (Randwick) Daniel Lewinski (Sydney Uni) Todd Pearce (Eastwood) Sam Zlatevski (Easts) Locks Adam Byrnes (Easts) Ed Brenac (Easts) Will Caldwell (Sydney Uni) Lachlan McCutcheon (Sydney Uni) Matthew Whittleston (Randwick)   Back row Tim Davidson (Sydney Uni) Chris Houston (Randwick) Pat McCutcheon (Sydney Uni) Dean Mumm (Sydney Uni) Halfbacks James Price (Randwick) Nathan Sievert (Sydney Uni) Josh Valentine (Manly) Flyhalves Daniel Halangahu (Sydney Uni) Danny Kroll (Randwick)   Centres Morgan Turinui (Randwick) Tom Azar (Easts) Tom Carter (Sydney Uni) Wings Sanualio Afeaki (Sydney Uni) Andrew Barrett (Souths) Anton La Vin (Easts) Junior Puroku (Easts) Filipo Toala (Eastwood) Fullbacks Gavin Debartolo (Easts) Arthur Little (Randwick)
    2007 Western Sydney Rams squad – ARC   Props Ben Alexander LHP (Eastwood) Aaron Broughton-Rouse THP (Eastwood) James Lakepa PR (Manly) Peter Niumata PR (Penrith) Benn Robinson LHP (Eastwood) Hookers Josh Mann-Rea HK (Manly) Tatafu Polota-Nau HK (Parramatta) V-Capt. Ben Roberts HK (West Harbour) Locks Ben Hand (c) LK (Eastwood) Van Humphries LK (No Club) Marty Wilson LK (Eastwood) Sam Wykes LK (Parramatta)   Loose forwards Wil Brame FL (Manly) Ben Coridas FL (Eastwood) Mark Howell FL (West Harbour) Gareth Palamo FL Eastwood) Hugh Perrett FL (Eastwood) Tom Egan N8 FL (Easts) Scrum-halves Josh Holmes SH (Eastwood) Dave Rimmer SH (West Harbour) Fly-halves Kurtley Beale FH (Norths) Josh Weeks FH CE (Parramatta) Fa'atonu Fili FH FB (No Club)   Centres Rory Sidey CE (West Harbour) Luke Johnson CE WG (Manly) Chris Siale CE WG (Manly) Wings Filipo Toala WG (Eastwood) Lachlan Mitchell WG CE (Sydney Uni) Fullbacks Ben Martin UB (Eastwood) Lachie Turner FB WG (Eastwood) Capt.