The newly appointed Head Coach for the Sydney Rams, Jim Williams, is looking forward to his team competing in the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) later in the year.
The former Wallaby representative spoke with ARU Media about the positive impact this exciting new competition is going to continue to have on both elite Rugby players as well as the sport in general.
“It’s a level that’s needed and a level that will be able to expose up and coming players on the fringe. It’s a great tool for the Super Rugby to look at new players coming through and also to develop and improve the individual, plus improve the game.”
Williams sees the value of the NRC and the impact it is likely to have on all levels of Rugby, particularly at the club level.
“Hopefully one thing Club Rugby can improve out of it, is we can adopt players playing at a higher level and it gives them a pathway and gives them an avenue if they want to progress, whilst still enjoying the Rugby.
Williams believes Rugby is only going to get stronger in Australia with a competition like the NRC giving players much needed game time and development at that elite level.
“It is a great game about developing players, developing coaches and developing the Rugby system a little bit further where we can work on those players looking to get to the next level and obviously coaches too. A really important tool in the scheme of the Rugby pathway about getting to play for Australia or getting a Super Rugby contract, or just wanting to be a better player.”
Only in its second year, the 11-week competition will kick off on Thursday 20 August with a re-match of the 2014 Grand Final between Brisbane City and Perth Spirit at Ballymore Stadium.
Head to ramsrugby.com.au for all the latest on the Greater Sydney Rams
