Australian Rugby Shield kicks off this weekend

Australian Rugby Shield kicks off this weekend

The 2008 edition of the Australian Rugby Shield commences this Saturday with first round matches in Charters Towers and Darwin.

The tournament will see five teams - Adelaide Black Falcons, Darwin Mosquitoes, NSW Country Cockatoos, Queensland Country Heelers and defending 2007 Champions Melbourne Axemen - play each other in a five-week round robin to determine the Shield winner.

The Tassie Jack Jumpers, who first appeared in the Australian Rugby Shield in 2006, will also play three matches this season, all of which are non-competition matches that do not count towards the overall championship.

Now in its ninth year, the ARS is funded by Australian Rugby Union and provides an important opportunity for regional teams and developing unions to compete in a structured competition against sides of a similar standard.

The competition also ensures rugby fans across the country and in regional Australia have the opportunity to get a taste of the game, with supporters being able to see high quality and exciting Rugby from some of the country’s developing young players.

Round One of the 2008 Australian Rugby Shield kicks off this Saturday with the Darwin Mosquitoes playing host to the Adelaide Black Falcons at Austar Park, while the Melbourne Axemen travel to Charters Towers (QLD) to take on the Queensland County Heelers at Dave Thomas Oval.

The full 2008 fixture list can be accessed here:

http://www.rugby.com.au/fixtures_results/australian_rugby_shield/2008_australian_rugby_shield,44475.html 

A rights-free audio preview of the first round can be accessed through the rugby.com.au Multimedia section here:

http://www.rugby.com.au/multimedia/multimedia/multimedia_landing_page,78604.html