True Blues Millie Elliott, Ian Roberts and Craig Wing will lead the festivities for NSWRL’s Inclusion Gala Day at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday 22 March to cap off the “Game For All” Round to be held that weekend (Saturday 21-Sunday 22 March).
Inclusion Gala Day is celebrating its fourth year and brings together people of all abilities, genders and cultural backgrounds to showcase the different formats of Rugby League.
The organisations and programs that will be represented at Inclusion Gala Day include What Ability, Game Changers, Physical Disability Rugby League, Heritage Rugby League and Try Time.
Elliott, who has played eight games for the Westpac NSW Blues Women, has been a longtime champion for inclusion, culminating with her establishing the Game Changers program in 2022 which provides inclusion and accessibility workshops to people with a disability.
Roberts, who represented NSW on nine occasions, became the first high profile Rugby League player to come out to the public as gay.
Wing, who played 12 games for the Blues, had a decorated Rugby League career and is of Filipino descent.
“Inclusion is not an add on, it’s central to how we grow and strengthen our game,” NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said.
“The Inclusion Gala Day reflects our commitment to creating environments where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds feel they belong, not just on the field, but within our broader community.
“It is designed to remove barriers and invite people to experience Rugby League in a way that feels welcoming, accessible, and fun.
“By showcasing inclusive formats of the game and creating opportunities to get involved, the Gala Day highlights how Rugby League can be a positive connector across cultures, communities, and identities.”
The “Game for All” Round is held towards the end of an important month for inclusion and diversity which includes:
- Sydney Mardi Gras Festival (13 February – 1 March), a world-renowned festival celebrating LGBTQ+ pride, diversity, and activism
- International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March), celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women
- Harmony Week (Monday 16 – Sunday 22 March) and Harmony Day (Saturday 21 March), which celebrates the diversity of Australians from different backgrounds
- Close the Gap Day (Thursday 19 March), which focuses on health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
- International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Saturday 21 March), dedicated to raising awareness of racial discrimination, its impact and taking action to eliminate racism from our community
- World Down Syndrome Day (Saturday 21 March), to raise awareness about Down Syndrome
NSWRL’s Inclusion Day will be attended by more than 120 participants with plenty of fun activations on the day including a Goal-Kicking Challenge, Pass the Ball Competitions, Kicking Darts, an Agility Course, face painting and colouring in.
The day will also include exhibition League Tag games for the NSW Physical Disability Rugby League Association, and local Try Time clubs for children, adults and teenagers with special needs and intellectual disabilities.
The day will open with a Welcome to Country from a First Nations Elder and a smoking ceremony, with each participant to receive a NSWRL showbag with a football, fidget spinner and wristband, and an Athlete Food Pack.
All participants who take part in Inclusion Day will also be given tickets to the NRL match between Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium on Saturday 28 March.
NSWRL is a leading advocate for inclusion, developing several initiatives or achieving significant milestones including:
- awarded Gold Tier Status at the 2025 Pride in Sports Awards, highlighting the organisation’s commitment to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion in the sport and wider community
- creating the Women in Sport Leadership program, which supports and upskills women in coaching, administration, and management roles with almost 80 graduates since 2021 across various sports
- working with Heritage Rugby League to run the Harmony 9s tournament, which is a celebration of culture and Rugby League attended by 19 heritage clubs and more than 1300 players in 2025
- supporting the inclusion of Physical Disability Rugby League and Wheelchair Rugby League in the annual Country v City representative matches
