The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys hit the road recently for NRL Community Carnival, bringing rugby league and important educational messages to schools from Bowen to Mackay.
Led by Cowboys community ambassador Matt Bowen and NRL and Cowboys game development officers, the visits delivered a series of special presentations promoting respect and inclusion to over 35 schools.
Cowboys game development manager Liam Bartlett said the students were all very excited about the visits, and enjoyed the interactive rugby league aspect of the sessions.
“The students are really receptive to the messages we bring to their schools, particularly because we are using rugby league as a way of explaining the key points,” Bartlett said.
“We receive feedback from the teachers while we’re on the road, and they always have positive things to say about the students’ behaviour after our visit.”
Matt Bowen said the visits were a great opportunity for the players to meet their supporters, while delivering vital educational messages.
“The players take a lot out of these visits, particularly when they can teach the next generation of kids to be inclusive and respectful both on and off the field.”
Hosted throughout February, NRL Community Carnival is supported by every NRL club and key NRL ambassadors, and will travel more than 40,000 kilometres to visit more than 1,000 schools, host up to 80 junior rugby league clinics and visit more than 250,000 primary and secondary students throughout Australia and New Zealand.
For more information on the NRL Respect programs, visit nrl.com.
