BATHURST rugby union product Charlie Clifton is interested to see how Fiji’s inclusion in this year’s National Rugby Championship (NRC) will play out.
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Clifton, who has played in the NRC as part of the NSW Country Eagles team, has mixed opinions of the decision announced by Australian Rugby Union on Friday.
While he believes the move will benefit Fijian rugby he hopes there won’t be too much focus on expanding the competition beyond Australia.
“I think it’s good to include other nations in the competition, especially Pacific island nations who have often been neglected in the rugby world,” he said.
“I don’t think Australian rugby union is in a position at the moment where we can do this though. I think we should be focusing on developing our own players.
“I think what would be more beneficial for rugby in Fiji is forming a combined Pacific team and entering into the Super Rugby competition, though I guess this could be a step towards that.
“It will be interesting to see if Fiji will be competitive or not. It will be good for their players to see what it’s like playing in a professional environment.
“It’s still going to be a great competition … and you’ve got a lot of players out there looking for accolades and the next step up.
“As long as the competition doesn’t expand too far then I see it as a benefit.”
Ben Whitaker, ARU General Manager of High Performance, said the “international flavour” will boost the National Rugby Championship’s appeal for fans.
“The quality of Rugby has improved dramatically from year to year and it is bound to go up another notch as the NRC enters its fourth season,” he said.
“Importantly, the NRC has proven to be a successful platform for player and coach development with graduation into Super Rugby positions at its highest in 2016.
“Both the players and coaches have overwhelmingly backed the competition, as have the fans, who watched the NRC in record numbers last season.”
The NRC action starts on September 2, with Orange set to play host to an Eagles fixture this season.
Clifton confirmed he won’t be making a return for 2016 grand finalists NSW Country Eagles next season but is keen to continue his time Eastern Surburbs in the Shute Shield.
It has been a difficult Shute Shield season for Clifton and Easts as they currently sit in 10th position and out of finals contention.
