The Australian Rugby Union announced on Tuesday the championship would start next year and a Canberra side is all but guaranteed to be included as one of the eight to 10 teams.

For the past two years Brumbies players have been forced to link with Canberra clubs instead of returning to Sydney or Brisbane for the domestic season.

But Brumbies director of rugby Laurie Fisher insisted the ACT would accept any decision to impose a ''Super Rugby talent cap'' to disperse players to different teams. Fisher also says the competition ''has to work'' to ''energise Australian rugby''.

ACT club rugby officials are expected to meet this week to start working on a submission for the ARU, which has to be finalised by January 13 to prove they are financially viable.

Details of where the team will play, its name, logo and coaching staff won't be known until next year. The ARU will likely divide Super Rugby contracted players between different teams to ensure talent is evenly spread around the competition.

''Our preference would be to keep our players together and then add to them from the local competition,'' Fisher said.

''You like players together to work with them, but we're not going to squabble, we'll put our view forward and accept any decision. This competition has to work and I think it will.''

The ARU is still haunted by the failed Australian Rugby Championship, which lost $5 million in 2007 and was scrapped after just one season.

It's understood it will cost between $300,000-$400,000 to run a team in the National Rugby Championship.

The Canberra Vikings played in the ARC and lost around $75,000, one of the smallest losses.

It is not known whether the Vikings Group will link with the new Canberra team as a financial backer, but negotiations with potential sponsors and partners will begin immediately

ARU chief executive Bill Pulver insists steps are in place to ensure the competition won't be a financial disaster. The main points are:

■ Teams will be from Canberra, Perth and Melbourne, north and south Brisbane, three Sydney sides and potential for a NSW country outfit.

■ Super Rugby pre-season training will be cut from 10 weeks to four weeks.

■ The NRC will run from August to October.

■ Super Rugby players not representing the Wallabies are expected to play in the NR.

■ Applicants must prove they are financially viable, have professional staffing, commitment to player development, a venue and potential for a fan base. They have until January 13 to apply.

Foxtel and Fox Sports will cover the costs of running the competition. ''This competition will be in place forever. It's an important step for future of rugby … ideally accelerating [player] development,'' Pulver said.

The NRC will also force the Canberra premier competition, the John I Dent Cup, to change its schedule to finish before the NRC begins.

The Canberra team would combine Brumbies talent with the best players from the capital's first XV competition. The team could use Manuka Oval for home games.

''You want your players to be playing and it's going to grow the standard of rugby,'' Fisher said.

''It gives club guys an opportunity to shine, which you don't get just at club level.''