The countdown to this year's Australian Rugby Shield has begun with 12 teams preparing for battle on the Sunshine Coast this October.
The Australian Rugby Shield (ARS) is the country's top amateur prize with state and regional representative sides fighting through pool play and placing rounds to determine a national champion.
The 2024 ARS runs from October 2-6 and will be streamed via Rugby Xplorer - here’s everything you need to know about this year's tournament:
WHAT
Founded in 2000, the ARS is a round-robin tournament that determines seedings before a final playoff fixture.
Team will play three games to determine rank (i.e. first, second, third) before a final placing match (first, third and fifth).
At its core, the ARS aims to identify talent and provide a representative pathway for those outside traditional rugby strongholds such as metropolitan Brisbane and Sydney.
NSW Country Cockatoos boast most men’s titles (four) with ACT & SNSW Griffins (three), Perth Gold (two), Queensland Country Heelers (one) and Victoria's Axemen (one) among past winners.
Victoria won the inaugural women’s event in 2022 before NSW Country Corellas clinched last year's title in Brisbane.
WHO
The 2024 men's ARS will be contested by QLD Country Heelers, NSW Country Cockatoos, TAS Jack Jumpers, SA Black Falcons, Queensland Suburban (aka "Subbies) and an Australian Defence Force side.
The 2024 women's ARS will feature ACT & SNSW Kestrels, QLD Country Orchids, NSW Country Corellas, SA Black Falcons, Queensland Suburban (aka "Kelpies") and an Australian Defence Force side.
WHERE
The 2024 ARS is being held at Caloundra Rugby Club on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council.
The Sunshine Coast is fast becoming one of Australia's top rugby destinations, having hosted successfully this year's U20 TRC and Australian Schools Rugby tournaments, and eager to host another showpiece event.
Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli is a key driver of the region's burgeoning rugby partnership as part of a long-term strategy to attract elite sports, athletes and national teams to train, stay and play on the Sunshine Coast ahead of key events including the British & Irish Lions Tour (2025), back-to-back Rugby World Cups (2027 and 2029) and the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Day 1 Fixtures - Wednesday October 2
Queensland Country Orchids v NT Goannas (09:15am - Field 2)
ACT & SNSW Kestrels v SA Black Falcons Women (11:00am - Field 2)
NSW Country Corellas v ADF Women (12:45pm - Field 2)
SA Black Falcons Men v ADF Men (09:15am - Field 1)
NSW Country Cockatoos v NT Mozzies (11:00am - Field 1)
Queensland Country Heelers v TAS Jack Jumpers (12:45pm - Field 1)
Day 2 Fixtures - Thursday October 3
SA Black Falcons Women v NSW Country Corellas (12:45pm - Field 1)
ACT & SNSW Kestrels v NT Goannas (02:30pm - Field 1)
ADF Women v QLD Country Orchids (04:15pm - Field 1)
ADF Men v QLD Country Heelers (12:45pm - Field 2)
TAS Jack Jumpers v NSW Country Cockatoos (02:30pm - Field 2)
SA Black Falcons Men v NT Mozzies (04:15pm - Field 2)
Day 3 Fixtures - Saturday October 5
NT Goannas v ADF Women (09:15am - Field 2)
NSW Country Corellas v ACT & SNSW Kestrels (11:00am - Field 2)
SA Black Falcons Women v QLD Country Orchids (12:45pm - Field 2)
QLD Country Heelers v SA Black Falcons Men (09:15am - Field 1)
NT Mozzies v TAS Jack Jumpers (11:00am - Field 1)
ADF Men v NSW Country Cockatoos (12:45pm - Field 1)
Day 4 Fixtures TBC
