The NRL is celebrating grassroots rugby league in round three of the Telstra Premiership, with North Queensland Toyota Cowboy Glenn Hall fronting the Cowboys' Play NRL round campaign.
With most junior competitions set to kick off in the coming weeks, junior rugby league is anticipating its biggest year yet with close to 100,000 players, across 8,800 teams and 1,300 clubs from the under-6s to under-18s, already registered for the 2015 season in Australia.
NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said rugby league at all levels was all about having fun, making friends and staying healthy and the NRL was using this round to help promote JRL and thank those who help make it all possible.
“It’s important that we continue to recognise the role junior rugby league plays in making the game of rugby league a success on and off the field,” he said.
“It’s also a time for current NRL players to give a shout out to their junior clubs and thank them for getting them to where they are.”
Round three will kick off with two big games, with an all Queensland affair between the Broncos and Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium and the Sea Eagles hosting the Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval.
“Playing sport and rugby league offers children numerous health, physical, social and academic benefits and the NRL is working continuously to improve the level of accessibility to our game and participants' enjoyment,” Greenberg said.
“This year we will see the introduction of a series of changes to the modified games in 2015 – this includes the Mini Footy and Mod League competitions and a new PlayNRL program that aims to offer participants a non-competitive and fun environment – through touch, tag and tackle options.”
Join the conversation at #PlayNRL, get your tickets at nrl.com/tickets and get to a game this weekend!
Celebrate the important roles every coach, player, referee, trainer and volunteer, at every level, plays in making rugby league the greatest game of all.
Those interested in joining the thousands of volunteers and players who love their league locally can sign up today at playnrl.com.
