The NSWRL will this week celebrate the ‘Game for All’ round culminating with ‘Inclusion Day’ at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday 23 March, which will allow participants to experience the thrill of walking through the tunnel the Westpac NSW Blues use for State of Origin games at Accor Stadium.
Inclusion Day is celebrating its second year and brings together people of all abilities, genders and cultural backgrounds to showcase the different formats of Rugby League.
The ‘Game for All’ round coincides with Harmony Week and Harmony Day (Wednesday 21 March), which celebrates the diversity of Australians from different backgrounds, and Close the Gap Day (Wednesday 21 March), which focuses on health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
“Inclusion Day gives NSWRL an opportunity to highlight Rugby League’s vision to be the game for all, and the many different formats of the game and ways to be involved with footy, regardless of ability, culture or gender,” said NSWRL Head of Communication and Community Engagement, Dr Tracie Edmondson.
“Being an inclusive sport means creating an environment that is welcoming for diverse groups so they can experience the important positive social benefits and community connections that Rugby League brings, as well as the obvious health and fitness benefits.
“At the same time, we also recognise there is still more than can be done, but we are working with a variety of organisations to make sure everyone in our community who wants to be involved can see themselves reflected in all aspects of our game.”
Inclusion Day will include a series of fun Rugby League activities and activations, including Pass the Ball competitions, a Goalkicking challenge, an NRL Inflatable, and a Gamezone.
The day will also include exhibition games for the NSW Physical Disability Rugby League Association, local Try Time clubs for children, adults and teenagers with special needs and intellectual disabilities, and a League Tag match.
The day will open with a Smoking Ceremony performed by a First Nations Elder, and also includes face painting and other activities, while each participant will receive a NSWRL showbag with a football, fidget spinner and wristband as well as an Athlete Food Pack.
All participants who take part in Inclusion Day at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence will be given tickets to the Under 19s Men’s and Women’s State of Origin matches at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday 20 June.
They will also receive tickets to a choice of the Round Three NRL games from Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Gold Coast Titans at Belmore Sports Ground, St George Illawarra Dragons v North Queensland Cowboys at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (both on Saturday 23 March), or Parramatta Eels v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium (Sunday 24 March).
to register for the 2024 NSWRL Inclusion Day.
