The New Zealand Rugby League will officially launch its new domestic competition, the Bartercard Cup, in Auckland tomorrow.
The competition featuring 12 teams - eight from Auckland, two from Wellington, one from the Bay of Plenty and one from Canterbury - will start on March 11.
"Sky will be providing television coverage
of the competition and that will be reviewed at the end of June," NZRL marketing and sponsorship manager Don Mann said.
The Auckland Warriors, who now send their surplus squad players to play in Queensland, are expected to use the competition to keep some of their players fit.
"They won't have a team in it, but we are hoping they will use some of the teams and send their players to them," Mann said.
Mann said some Australian clubs had expressed interest in the tournament.
"They'll be watching to see how it develops and I think they might have a serious look at it once the competition establishes itself."
- NZPA
