The NSWRL will this week celebrate the Game for All Round (Saturday 22-Sunday 23 March) culminating with Inclusion Day at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence on Saturday 29 March, with participants experiencing the thrill of walking through the tunnel the Westpac NSW Blues use for State of Origin games at Accor Stadium.
Inclusion Day, which will be hosted by True Blue Millie Elliott, is celebrating its third 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 (Monday 17-Sunday 23 March) and Harmony Day (Friday 21 March), which celebrates the diversity of Australians from different backgrounds;
- Close the Gap Day (Thursday 20 March), which focuses on health equality for First Nations people;
- International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March).
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said the annual Inclusion Gala Day will bring together people from all groups represented in the organisation’s Inclusion framework across the five key areas of First Nations, Gender Equity, Multicultural, All Abilities and LGBTQ+ Pride.
“NSWRL understands the important role sport can play in promoting social inclusion, community health and well-being, values and anti-discrimination, and most importantly, a sense of security and belonging – one of our organisation’s key missions,” he said.
“We encourage participation by all individuals both on the field, playing across all levels and formats of the game, and off the field, coaching, officiating, volunteering, or supporting our sport. In order to grow our game and create an environment where everyone truly feels welcome, we are committing to transformational change and ensuring inclusion is embedded in everything we do.
“The NSWRL Board and NSWRL Executive will play a key role in driving this change and fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that will allow everyone in our community who wants to belong to our sport to feel a part of the Rugby League family.
“To achieve this across the wider Rugby League community, we need the help and support of people who are passionate about their clubs and creating an environment for everyone to equally participate in our sport. Therefore, we are seeking to establish a network of Inclusion Champions.”
Inclusion Day will include a series of fun Rugby League activities and activations, including Pass the Ball competitions, a Goal-Kicking Challenge, Kicking Darts and an Agility Course.
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 an Acknowledgment of Country from a First Nations representative, and will also include face painting and other activities, while each participant will receive a NSWRL showbag with a football, fidget spinner and wristband, and an Athlete Food Pack.
All participants who take part in Inclusion Day at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence will be given tickets to the Country v City matches at Brookvale Oval on Sunday 18 May, while there will also be giveaways to NRL games.
Coinciding with the annual Inclusion Gala Day, the NSWRL will hold an Inclusion Champions Seminar, with a Pride focus as part of the Pride In Sport Festival running throughout March.
The seminar is a one-hour educational workshop, conducted by Pride In Sport in conjunction with NSWRL, aiming to empower representatives across the state to be champions for inclusion in their clubs and local community. Attendees will receive a gift pack including a rainbow Rugby League ball and hear from a guest speaker with lived experience.
The NSWRL is looking to establish a network of Inclusion Champions who are passionate about their clubs and creating an environment for everyone to equally participate in Rugby League. This includes players, coaches, officials, and administrators at any competition level or anyone involved with NSWRL at any capacity.
Inclusion Champions can be members of the communities represented in our Inclusion framework or allies, prepared to publicly advocate for a greater sense of belonging in Rugby League.
“Inclusion Champions will assist their clubs to provide a safe, respectful and welcoming environment for people from these communities in their clubs and wider community to participate and prosper,” Trodden said.
“Inclusion Champions will help to elevate the voices and perspectives of these people and communities, promote acceptance and inclusion and encourage others to practice allyship to demonstrate there is a place for everyone in Rugby League.”
Anyone interested in attending the Inclusion Champions Seminar should email tedmondson@nswrl.com.au, or for more information about the Inclusion Champions Program, go to https://www.nswrl.com.au/community/nswrl-inclusion-champions-program/
Click here to register for the 2025 NSWRL Inclusion Day.
