NRC Grand Final - Canberra v Queensland Country

Chumps to champs! Country win NRC

BRAD Thorn’s coaching career is off to the perfect start as Queensland Country, the laughing stock of the competition for three years, came from behind to beat Canberra Vikings to win the NRC.

NRC Semi Final - Vikings v Spirit

‘Absolute freak’: Aussie rugby’s next big thing

LOOK out, world. 19-year-old Vikings back-rower Rob Valetini is enjoying a breakout NRC season and it is just the tip of the iceberg according to his club captain.

Pressure Cooker

The five breakout players of the NRC season

THE National Rugby Championship is set for an exciting conclusion with Saturday’s final between Canberra Vikings and Queensland Country. Here are five breakout players from the 2017 season.

Brad Thorn, NRC coaches, club rugby finals players

How Thorn turned Queensland’s fortunes around

THE laughing stock of the National Rugby Championship in years gone by, a Brad Thorn-inspired Queensland Country are just one win away from being crowned champions.

NRC Semi Final - Queensland Country v Fijian Drua

Country thump Drua to reach NRC final

QUEENSLAND Country have booked their place in the National Rugby Championship grand final, defeating Fijian Drua 57-21 in their semi-final.

QLD_GCB_SPORT_NRC_1OCT17

Defence the key to Game of Thorns

BRAD Thorn has instilled a new sense of discipline in the Queensland Country team that has carried them through to the NRC semi finals.

Rugby captains - Brisbane and Qld Country

Young and hungry: NRC team of the season

THE importance of the National Rugby Championship was underlined by the selections of little-known locks Matt Philip and Blake Enever for the Wallabies’ Spring Tour. Here is our 2017 NRC dream team.

QLD_GCB_SPORT_NRC_1OCT17

Flying Fijian in frame for Reds deal

THE irresistible 10-try form of Filipo Daugunu has put the little-known Fijian flyer on the Queensland Reds’ radar for a development player contract.

Karmichael’s welcome headache for Cheika

MICHAEL Cheika has received a boost ahead of the third Bledisloe Cup Test after dual international Karmichael Hunt came through unscathed from his first hit out in more than two months.

Folau Fainga’a receives treatment to his eye.

Second Drua player cops season-ending ban

FIJIAN Drua’s inaugural National Rugby Championship campaign has been marred with their second season-ending suspension for an on-field indiscretion.

NRC Rd 5 - Canberra v Fiji

Fijian Drua players face eye-gouging charges

TWO Fijian Drua players will face a judicial hearing over heinous allegations of eye-gouging Canberra Vikings hooker Folau Faingaa.

NRC Rd 5 - QLD Country v Melbourne

Country go top with big NRC win over Rising

QUEENSLAND Country were too strong for the Melbourne Rising with a 54-12 victory at Bond University on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

An eye gouging claim against Fijian Drua.

Watch: ‘Completely unacceptable’ eye gouge claims

AN angry Canberra player has accused a Fijian opponent of eye-gouging during a NRC game, with Australia’s leading rugby referee labelling the incident “very, very serious.” Watch the video here.

Sefa Naivalu disclocated his shoulder.

Injury heartbreak for Wallabies winger

LUCKLESS Sefa Naivalu’s horror run of injuries continues, with the Wallabies winger ruled out for the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder.

Brad Thorn, NRC coaches, club rugby finals players

Thorn’s Queensland off to best start in NRC history

THE laughing stock of the National Rugby Championship in years gone by, Queensland Country have announced themselves as contenders in 2017 after recording back-to-back wins.

Melbourne Rising v. Perth Spirit

NRC preview: Super Sefa’s return, marquee matchup

THE return from injury of Wallabies star Sefa Naivalu and a marquee matchup between the Fijian Drua and Perth Spirit highlight round four of the National Rugby Championship.

Gamechanger: How Twiggy’s comp shapes rugby’s future

BILLIONAIRE Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s foray into rugby has the ability to dramatically change the sport’s future. Here’s what it could mean for Super Rugby, the NRC and the club game.

NRC Rd 3 - Brisbane v Canberra

Quade Cooper the difference in NRC clash

AXED Wallaby Quade Cooper’s perfect goalkicking performance was the difference as Brisbane City ended Canberra Vikings’ unbeaten start to the NRC in a thrilling 42-40 win.

(COMBO) This combination of file pictures shows Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest (L) speaking during a business luncheon in Sydney on April 17, 2012, and Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chairman Cameron Clyne (R) speaking at a press conference in Sydney on September 5, 2017. Australian and Indo-Pacific rugby chiefs are working to collaborate on a new league initiated by mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest that will allow Super Rugby stars to feature, it was announced on September 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / William WEST

Rugby’s ‘crossroads’ moment for Twiggy, ARU

FORMER Wallaby Stephen Hoiles says Andrew Forrest’s proposed new competition has forced the Australian Rugby Union into a “crossroads” decision with huge ramifications for the future of the game.

Billionaire businessman Andrew Forrest addresses the media.

‘Greatest team in world’: Twiggy’s bold new plans

BILLIONAIRE Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest has unveiled a historic offer of collaboration between the new Indo Pacific Rugby Championship and the Australian Rugby Union. The ARU has now responded.