Wests Tigers forward Robbie Rochow will join Parramatta Eels forward Tim Mannah and NRL Women's player Corban McGregor as they visit school kids throughout the New England region.
Road to Regions targets regional and remote areas of Australia with the specific objective to empower rugby league communities to ensure their success and to grow the game.
Through the support of NRL Clubs, this week-long (4-10 February 2018) initiative sees both NRL and NRLW players, as well as former stars, take part in a broad range of community visits across New South Wales and Queensland. These visits include educational programs at schools, visits to junior rugby league clubs, and participation in fundraising events.
The tour provides an opportunity for more than 60 townships across Australia to meet some of the stars of the game before the season commences.
The Road to Regions tour also provides the players and the game the opportunity to promote positive education and wellbeing messages amongst communities.
As part of the NRL's commitment to the heartlands of our game, these activities are geared toward improving the wellbeing of regional rugby league communities, especially those that are doing it tough, with three-quarters of these regions currently classed as drought-affected.
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 an opportunity to participate in to promote physical well-being through participation in sport and mental well-being through the delivery of cyber-safety messages and the NRL's State of Mind program.
The State of Mind program aims to increase mental health literacy, reduce the stigma around mental illness, start positive conversations and enable connections regarding this important social issue. Last year, almost 100 rugby league clubs throughout Australia took part in the program.
Keep an eye on the hashtag #RoadtoRegions for all content from the tour!
