Australian Rugby Shield
The Australian Rugby Shield (ARS) is a national competition that includes teams from NSW Country, Queensland Country, Darwin, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne, Tasmania and Perth in a five week round robin competition.
The tournament is funded by the Australian Rugby Union and aims to provide regional teams and developing unions with a regular schedule to compete against each other at a higher level of competition than would normally be possible in their individual states or territories.
Conducted under the Super 12 style rules and regulations, the competition aims to assist players, coaches, managers and referees in their professional development. It gives them the opportunity to achieve a pathway to full representative level including education in coaching, selecting and refereeing.
The tournament is an important step in the development of Rugby Union in Australia and provides an opportunity for the ARU to identify and unearth talented players nationally.
For full coverage of the 2006 ARS, click here to go to the ARU page.
2006 Australian Rugby Shield Fixture
Past Australian Rugby Shield winners include: 2000 - QLD Country Heelers, 2001 - NSW Country Cockatoos, 2002 - NSW Country Cockatoos, 2003 - Perth Gold, 2004 - NSW Country Cockatoos, 2005 – Argonaut Gold
