Brisbane City are hunting a three-peat of titles as the third edition of the NRC kicks off on August 27.

Brisbane won the 2014 and 2015 titles under new Reds coach Nick Stiles and will be guided by Rodney Seib this season.

The competition has been reduced to eight teams this season with the Sydney Stars ceasing to exist and Sydney University folding into the Country Eagles.

Other features of the NRC include the return to rugby of cross-code legend Brad Thorn.

Thorn, a Rugby World Cup-winner with the All Blacks, has come out of retirement at the age of 41 and will juggle playing and coaching commitments under new Queensland Country coach Toutai Kefu.

The Western Sydney Rams have also pulled off a recruitment coup with Fiji's Olympic sevens gold medallist Vetemo Ravouvou signing with the club.

Fox Sports will screen two games live each weekend, at 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The other two games, at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays, will be live streamed via foxsports.com.au and Fox Sports Now on Apple TV and Telstra TV.

Former Wallabies Benn Robinson and Cameron Shepherd will make their Fox Sports commentary debuts alongside Phil Waugh, Stephen Hoiles, Sean Maloney, Louise Ransome and Natalie Yoannidis.