The 2005 Telstra Australian Rugby Shield (TARS) gets underway this weekend, with the first of five rounds being played on Saturday.
Currently in its fifth year, the Telstra Australian Rugby Shield is a national competition that features teams from NSW Country, Queensland Country, Darwin, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth in a five week round robin competition.
Unlike last year's 'first past the post' system, the 2005 TARS champion will be decided in a Final played on the weekend of June 18/19 between the top two teams.
The Telstra Australian Rugby Shield is funded by the Australian Rugby Union and supported by Telstra, 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 normally possible in their individual states or territories.
The competition also ensures Rugby fans in regional Australia get a taste of the game, and over the next five weeks, supporters can look forward to displays of exciting Rugby from some of Australia's young developing players.
Round One this weekend sees 2004 champions, the NSW Country Cockatoos host the Adelaide Black Falcons at Endeavour Oval in Orange; Perth Gold line up against the Queensland Country Heelers at Rugby Park in Floreat, Perth; and the Melbourne Axemen gear up for an encounter with the Darwin Mosquitoes at Harlequin Rugby Club, in Ashwood, Melbourne.
2005 TELSTRA AUSTRALIAN RUGBY SHIELD
Date Match
Venue
Kick Off
ROUND 1
7 May
NSW Country v Adelaide
Endeavour Oval, Orange
3:00pm
7 May
Perth v QLD Country
Rugby Park, Floreat, Perth
3:00pm
7 May
Melbourne v Darwin
Harlequin Rugby Club, Ashwood, Melbourne
6:30pm
ROUND 2
14 May
QLD Country v Darwin
Across The Waves Sporting Complex, Bundaberg
3:00pm
14 May
Melbourne v NSW Country
Harlequin Rugby Club, Ashwood, Melbourne
6:30pm
15 May
Adelaide v Perth
Gleneagles Reserve, Woodville, Adelaide
2:00pm
ROUND 3
21 May
Perth v Darwin
Rugby Park, Floreat, Perth
3:00pm
21 May
NSW Country v QLD Country
Dangar Park, Narrabri
3:00pm
21 May
Adelaide v Melbourne
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
7:30pm
ROUND 4
28 May
Darwin v Adelaide
Optus Park, Marrara, Darwin
3:00pm
28 May
QLD Country v Melbourne
Hugh St Rugby Grounds, Townsville
3:00pm
28 May
NSW Country v Perth
Oakes Oval, Lismore
3:00pm
ROUND 5
4 June
Darwin v NSW Country
Optus Park, Marrara, Darwin
3:00pm
4 June
QLD Country v Adelaide
Rugby Park, Rockhampton
2:30pm
4 June
Melbourne v Perth
Harlequin Rugby Club, Ashwood, Melbourne
7:00pm
FINAL
18/19 June
1st place v 2nd place
Home ground, 1st place team
tba