The NRL is set to take as many as five premiership matches to regional areas next season in what shapes as a major boost for the game in the country.

The scrapping of the City-Country representative fixture from 2018 onwards was a blow for supporters outside metropolitan areas and major regional cities but calls for League Central not to turn their backs on the bush are poised to be answered.

Back to the bush: The extra fixtures will be welcomed after the scrapping of City v Country. Credit:NRL Photos

NRL officials are busy compiling the draw for next season and it can be revealed that the fixture list will include four or five first-grade games staged in the country. There are two already locked away – one in Bathurst as part of Penrith's 10-year agreement to play an NRL match a year there, and another in Tamworth. The locations of the other regional venues are yet to be confirmed but the likes of Mudgee, Wagga Wagga and Coffs Harbour, which all hosted City-Country rep games in the final years of the concept, are expected to be contenders. The matches will be in addition to the Sydney Roosters' deal to play one game a season at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford until 2019.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg had pledged to compensate regional NSW when the decision was made to remove City-Country from the schedule and the handful of premiership games in the pipeline for next season may be just the beginning, with the NSW government on Monday to unveil a $100 million regional sports infrastructure fund aimed at increasing the number of top-class facilities in the country.