Wests Tigers players will be spending time this month with school students and junior Rugby League players as a part of the NRL’s Community Carnival and Junior Registration Days.
The Club is proud to be a part of the long-running NRL program, entering its 15th year in 2015, with Wests Tigers players out and about in South-West Sydney, Group 6 district, Sydney’s Inner-West and for the first time, the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales.
Wests Tigers CEO Grant Mayer said that the Community Carnival was an important part of the year for the Club, with the players enjoying spending time passing on important messages to school students.
“The NRL Community Carnival is a fantastic time for all NRL players to re-engage with their local communities,” said Mayer. “Wests Tigers players will be in and around Port Macquarie, South-West Sydney and the Inner-West of Sydney, giving children a great opportunity to meet their favourite players.
“With so much local talent in our ranks I know that players such as Nofoaluma, Sue, Tedesco, Lawrence and Woods are all looking forward to the next few weeks,” he said.
Wests Tigers players kicked off the NRL’s Community Carnival this week with a three-day visit to the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales. Based out of Port Macquarie, players James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Curtis Sironen, Keith Galloway and Tim Moltzen, along with John Skandalis, visited more than 8,000 students.
Skandalis said that the players enjoyed spending time in regional New South Wales, with the visit the first time that Wests Tigers players had been in the area.
“It's been great to be out here in the community getting to meet so many new people,” said Skandalis. “I know that the players really enjoy it and get a lot out of it, and the people they meet always have such strong feedback about how nice and helpful the players always are. I was a really enjoyable three days for all involved.”
Next stop for Wests Tigers players will be the South-West of Sydney and Group 6 regions, with the Club taking part in school visits and also Junior Registration Days during the week of Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February.
In 2014 Wests Tigers players visited 64 schools and more than 25,000 students, with this number expected to be eclipsed in 2015.
As well as visiting schools with the NRL Wests Tigers players will be attending Junior Registration Events, spending time with up-and-coming players as they also prepare for the beginning of their Rugby League season.
On Wednesday 18 February players will head to Campbelltown Sports Stadium for Western Suburbs District Junior Rugby League’s Registration Day and Mittagong Sports Ground for Group 6 Juniors Registration Day. Wests Tigers players will be at both event from 5.30pm until 7.30pm.
Western Suburbs District Junior Rugby League CEO Julie Luke said that the Junior Registration Day was a great opportunity for young players to meet their heroes and join a club.
“Obviously kids want to see their heroes and a day like this is the perfect opportunity for them to spend time with Wests Tigers players,” said Luke. “Now is our registration period and I encourage existing and new players to come along on the day, meet the players and sign up with a local club.”
Wests Tigers will round out the 2015 Community Carnival with visits to a number of schools and Junior Rugby League Clubs in the Inner-West of Sydney on Tuesday 24 February.
Last year more than 6,000 students at 25 schools in the Inner-West spent time with Wests Tigers players, with players like Luke Brooks and Aaron Woods returning to their schools for visits.
