Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder, True Blue Craig Wing and NSW and Australian Wheelchair Rugby League player Liam Luff will join 120 participants of all abilities and cultural backgrounds for an Inclusion Gala Day at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence on Saturday 25 March.
The day will include a series of fun Rugby League activities and activations to mark the end of the NSWRL’s Inclusion Month, an awareness campaign to promote inclusion and reflect the diversity of the Rugby League community.
“The New South Wales Rugby League’s vision is to be the ‘game for all’ and while we already have a range of programs and partnerships in place, we also recognise there is more that can be done to make sure everyone in our community sees themselves genuinely reflected in all aspects of our game,” said NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden.
“This includes on and off the field at local clubs, schools, in Rugby League administration, within Rugby League workplaces, in the crowd, in media coverage, publicity, promotion, broadcasting the game and in representative female and male teams.”
The gala day will kick off at 1.30pm with an official Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, followed by exhibition games for Physical Disability Rugby League, TryTime and League Tag, face painting, and pass the ball.
Participants will receive a free football and will also have the opportunity to watch three premier Rugby League matches at Accor Stadium on Saturday afternoon and evening, culminating with the NRL game between Souths and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at 7.35pm, thanks to the generosity of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The other games include The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup between the Rabbitohs and Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at 3.05pm, and the Jersey Flegg Cup between Souths and Manly at 5pm.
The day is being supported by organisations including the What Ability Foundation, NSW Physical Disability Rugby League Foundation, NSW Wheelchair Rugby League, Mounties and Wentworthville Magpies Try Time Clubs, and Heritage Rugby League.
More than 20 countries are represented in the heritage of participants, including Lebanon, Malta, Italy, the United States, Samoa, Greece, the Netherlands, Tonga, Cambodia, Ireland, Mauritius, Ireland, Scotland, El Salvador, Spain, Chile, Argentina, Samoa, Croatia, China, England and Fiji.
