nd ham , ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Category : New ▁Zealand ▁polit icians ▁awarded ▁kn ighth ood s <0x0A> </s> ▁The ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁National ▁Rugby ▁Championship ▁was ▁the ▁fifth ▁season ▁of ▁the ▁top ▁flight ▁of ▁Australian ▁domestic ▁rugby ▁union . ▁The ▁competition ▁began ▁on ▁ 1 ▁September ▁and ▁concluded ▁on ▁ 2 7 ▁October . ▁Match es ▁were ▁road cast ▁on ▁Fox ▁Sports ▁and ▁the ▁championship ▁featured ▁eight ▁professional ▁teams , ▁seven ▁from ▁Australia ▁and ▁one ▁from ▁F iji . ▁ ▁The ▁F ij ian ▁Dru a ▁won ▁their ▁first ▁N RC ▁title , ▁defe ating ▁reign ing ▁champion ▁side ▁ ▁by ▁ 3 6 – 2 6 ▁in ▁the ▁grand ▁final ▁held ▁at ▁Church ill ▁Park ▁in ▁La ut oka . ▁The ▁Dru a ▁secured ▁home ▁ground ▁advantage ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁by ▁winning ▁the ▁minor ▁premi ership ▁for ▁the ▁regular ▁season ▁and ▁then ▁be ating ▁ ▁in ▁their ▁semif inal . ▁Queensland ▁Country ▁defeated ▁the ▁Western ▁Force ▁in ▁the ▁other ▁semif inal ▁to ▁progress ▁to ▁the ▁grand ▁final . ▁F ij ian ▁Dru a ▁also ▁finished ▁the ▁season ▁as ▁w inners ▁of ▁the ▁Hor an - L ittle ▁Sh ield ▁for ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ ▁Teams ▁There ▁were ▁two ▁major ▁changes ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁season . ▁The ▁Gre ater ▁Sydney ▁R ams ▁team ▁was ▁removed ▁from ▁the ▁competition , ▁leaving ▁New ▁South ▁Wales ▁with ▁two ▁particip ating ▁sides ▁in ▁the ▁N RC , ▁one ▁Sydney ▁team ▁and ▁one ▁Country ▁team . ▁In ▁Per th