Tooheys New Cup
The Tooheys New Cup, or TNC, was a rugby union competition established by the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) in 2002. Played in the second half of the rugby season after the Super 12 competition was completed, it was intended as a stepping stone between the existing grade rugby (see Shute Shield) and Super Rugby competitions. The Tooheys New Cup ran for five seasons before it ceased to exist, with the short-lived Australian Rugby Championship taking its place in the second half of the rugby season of 2007. From 2008 onwards, an extended Shute Shield  covered the entire season. Open to the existing twelve grade clubs, the TNC featured Super Rugby players not on international duty and the occasional Wallaby. In seasons 2004-2005 the Canberra Vikings competed in the Tooheys New Cup, in the 2005-2006 & 2007 the Central Coast Waves & Illawarra Warriors took part in addition to the Sydney-based sides.