NSW Country product Ruan Sims, from Gerringong, as well as Dale Finucane, Isabelle Kelly, Anthony Don and Euan Aitken are among a host of male and female rugby league players taking to the the road this week to visit more than 60 regional towns across Queensland and New South Wales.
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The visits are part of the NRL’s annual ‘Road to Regions’ tour, providing an opportunity for players to meet some of their biggest fans throughout regional and rural parts of the country before the Premiership season commences.
NRL head of government and community relations, Jaymes Boland-Rudder said the Road to Regions tour also provided the players and the game the opportunity to promote positive education and wellbeing messages amongst communities.
“The Road to Regions tour is a fantastic way for our players to say thank you to local communities for their support of rugby league, as well as a chance to impart important education messages around respect, positive mental wellbeing and empowering one another,” Mr Boland-Rudder said.
As part of the tour, the NRL will also deliver its State of Mind grassroots program, with more than 95 junior rugby league clubs having taken part in the program in 2018.
The program has been developed alongside expert health partners (Kids Helpline, headspace, Lifeline and Black Dog Institute) in the mental wellbeing space and is designed to increase mental health literacy and reduce the stigma around mental illness.
The NRL Road to Regions tours are proudly supported by the New South Wales and Queensland Governments.
A list of the 2019 NRL Road to Regions locations and players attending locations is below:
Charters Towers (North QLD): February 4-5
Coen Hess (Cowboys) and Brittany Breayley (NRLW)
Roma and Districts (Central QLD): February 4-6
Frank Winterstein (Sea Eagles), Simaima Taufa (Roosters) and Ali Brigginshaw (NRLW)
Armidale (North West NSW): February 4-6
Robbie Rochow (Tigers), Tim Mannah (Eels) and Corban McGregor (NRLW)
Griffith and Leeton (South West NSW): February 4-6
Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Dale Finucane (Storm) and Ruan Sims (NRLW)
Malanda and Atherton (Far North QLD): February 6-8
Kurt Capewell (Sharks), Aiden Guerra (Knights) and Tahlulah Tillett (NRLW)
Biloela and Monto (Central QLD): February 6-8
Joe Ofahengaue (Broncos), Adam Doueihi (Rabbitohs) and Chelsea Baker (NRLW)
Grafton and Yamba (Northern NSW): February 6-8
Fa’amanu Brown (Bulldogs), Anthony Don (Titans) and Isabelle Kelly (NRLW)
Coolah, Dunedoo and Wellington (Western NSW): February 6-8
Euan Aitken (Dragons), Tim Grant (Panthers), Talesha Quinn (NRLW) and Ruan Sims (NRLW)
