THE National Rugby Championship is set to be played for at least six more years, with the competition’s future all-but secured in the ARU’s new broadcasting deal.

The inaugural season of the NRC yielded mixed results last year, with the third-tier competition producing good rugby and eleven Super Rugby debutants but only modest TV audiences for major financial backer Foxtel and Fox Sports.

Speculation subsequently emerged the pay-TV company would not renew its $2m-a-year funding deal at the end of this year, thus threatening the competition’s existence.

The Daily Telegraph understands, however, that Fox Sports are set to take up the option of a five-year extension as part of the new ARU broadcasting rights deal, meaning the NRC can continue until at least 2020.

SANZAR partners and broadcasters are yet to finalise long-form contracts in a new five-year agreement but the ARU is expected to next month announce a deal worth $40-45 million a year.

It is not known if the ARU will still get $2m-a-year for the NRC, however, and it understood Fox Sports have committed to broadcast an Australian third-tier competition — not necessarily the NRC in its current format.

media_camera Lopeti Timani in action for the Melbourne Rising.

That important detail leaves the door open ​for​ major structural change in 2016 or later seasons, including a possible reduction of the NRC’s nine-team format.

There will still be nine teams in 2015 and the match-of-the-round will still be televised on Thursday night, but changes to the NRC could ​even ​begin as soon as this season.

Stakeholders set to ​meet in coming months to discuss the competition’s shortfalls in season one.

Marketing and promotion of the competition by the ARU — which was criticised as non-existent in 2014 — is being pushed a priority for growth, and addressing a gap between club-based teams in NSW and Super Rugby-based sides everywhere else is on the agenda. Three semi-finalists were extensions of Super Rugby programs.

Increased involvement of the Waratahs staff and resources in Sydney clubs is sure to be looked at by new CEO Greg Harris, who knows the NRC inside out after his time at RUPA.

Officials are also looking at cricket’s Big Bash League as a model that sees more fluid player movement between states and franchises.

The NRC was pitched as a development and pathway vehicle, however, and after three rounds of the 2015 Super Rugby season, there is clear evidence of success on that front.

A total of eleven players have earned Super Rugby debuts based on their NRC form: Marco Kotze, Duncan’ Paia’aua, Sef Faagase, Campbell Magnay and Sam Talakai (Reds); James Dargaville, Rory Arnold, Sean Doyle and Lausii Taliauli (Brumbies); Sefa Naivalu (Rebels) and Kane Koteka (Force).

media_camera Sam Talaki signed for the Queensland Reds after starring for Brisbane City in the NRC.

Sydney Stars coach Chris Malone said he was pleased Australia’s third-tier would be given the opportunity to succeed.

“It’s a big like the A-League or whatever, you have to give a competition the chance to grow,” Malone said.

“In terms of development, the learning and exposure our players got during the season can only be a good thing. I think it is great if it is going to go for that long.

“Now people know about it, and understand it is going to be on, I see great potential this year in the fact it will be on around the Rugby World Cup. There won’t be any other rugby content, and hopefully rugby is in everyone’s mindseye because of the good stuff the Wallabies are doing. That can help work on building crowds and greater engagement.”

Originally published as NRC secure for at least six more years