The Telstra Australian Rugby Shield is a national rugby union competition intended to unearth new talent and foster rugby union development outside the traditional rugby states New South Wales and Queensland. Image File history File links Australian_rugby_shield. ... Image File history File links Australian_rugby_shield. ... Telstra Corporation (ASX: TLS, NZX: TLS, NYSE: TLS) is an Australian telecommunications company under joint public/private ownership, holding a dominant position in landline telephone services, large share of mobile phone services, domestic consumer (including dial-up access and Broadband internet broadband cable modem, satellite and ADSL services under the... General phase play in rugby union. ... Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea Speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo Gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus Anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus Viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ... Emblems: Faunal - Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); Floral - Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum); Bird - Brolga (Grus rubicunda); Aquatic - Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos); Gem - Sapphire; Colour - Maroon Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Const. ...

It 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 also 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.

History

The tournament was first played in 2000, and is played as a single round robin over five weekends with a first-past-the-post system in place for the first time in 2004.

The competition for 2006 is composed of eight teams with Canberra and Tasmania entering teams for the first time. The competition will be played in two pools with a cross pool final series. The ARU has determined that the competition is to exclude contracted and academy players.

Participating teams

For 2006 tournament

Pool 1

• ACT & Southern NSW Vikings
• Darwin Mosquitoes
• New South Wales Country Cockatoos
• Queensland Country Heelers

Central Darwin, circa 1986 Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory, and is a city of 109,419 people (2001 census) on Australias far north-western coastline. ...

Pool 2

• Adelaide Black Falcons
• Melbourne Axemen
• Perth Gold
• Tasmania Jack Jumpers

Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia, with a population of over 1. ... Melbourne is the state capital and largest city in the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-largest city in Australia, with a population of approximately 3. ... For other cities named Perth, see Perth. ...

Champions

• 2000 Queensland Country Heelers
• 2001 New South Wales Country Cockatoos
• 2002 New South Wales Country Cockatoos
• 2003 Perth Gold
• 2004 New South Wales Country Cockatoos
• 2005 Perth Gold
• 2006 ACT & Southern NSW Vikings

See also

• Australia national rugby union team
• Super 14