Fixtures for streamlined NRC announced

Back-to-back National Rugby Championship winners Brisbane City will open the third season of the domestic competition on the road against the NSW Country Eagles in late August.

Fixtures for the new NRC season have been announced, with Perth Spirit taking on Melbourne Rising, Queensland Country to host runners-up Canberra Vikings and an all-Sydney derby also slated for the opening round.

It is the first time the NRC will run with only eight teams, after last year's semi-finalists the Sydney Stars were dumped as part of a consolidation strategy, with the North Harbour Rays subsequently rebadged the Sydney Rays.

Matches will be staged in 14 different locations across the country, including Tamworth and Orange in NSW, Frankston in Victoria and Toowoomba in Queensland.

All bar two regular season matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.