ARL recruitment ‘Blitz’ program

ARL Development today released statistics of its recruitment ‘Blitz’ program which has seen more than 66,000 school children around Sydney get a taste of Rugby League this February.



A total of 257 schools throughout Sydney welcomed NRL players into their classrooms to learn about healthy living through One Commuity’s “Eat well, Play well, Stay well” campaign.

The visits, convened by ARL Development Officers with the support of NSWRL, CRL and NRL Club development staff, also gave students the opportunity to try the ‘mini mod’ version of the game.

Of the 65,245 school children who participated in the ‘Blitz’ visits, almost 35,000 were based at western Sydney schools, a figure highlighting Rugby League’s continued growth in the region.

Six schools in the Canterbury district and eight in the Parramatta district signed up for ‘Blitz’ visits for the first time, while Liverpool Boys High and Leumeah High School both participated for the first time in several years.

ARL Development General Manager Bill Palmer said one of the most pleasing aspects of the ‘Blitz’ program was its ability to reach new schools.

“The recruitment Blitz not only gives school children a taste of Rugby League but it’s very much about promoting a healthy lifestyle,” Palmer said today.

“Kids are able to try the game out and if they like it they are able to sign up for their local junior league.

“The breadth of the program is really quite amazing and these statistics are testament to the hard work the game’s development officers and players are putting in to grass roots Rugby League.”

In the western Sydney region, more than 11,075 kids from 44 Schools in the Canterbury district welcomed top 25 playing squad members from the Bulldogs into their classrooms to talk about the differences between professional football and the ‘mini mod’ version of the game, autograph signing and Q & A sessions.

In the Parramatta region 37 schools and more than 12,000 students listened to Eels players Luke Burt, Ben Smith, Josh Cordoba and Joel Reddy share their experiences in Rugby League.

And Wests Tigers first-grade players Chris Lawrence, Bryce Gibbs, John Morris, Taniela Tuiaki and Todd Payten joined development staff to visit 46 schools and more than 11,200 children.

Meanwhile, St George Illawarra players Jason Nightingale, Ben Creagh and Matt Head visited schools in the Illawarra and Kogarah regions while the Roosters top-25 squad visited 15 schools and more than 3,100 school children.

NRL clubs were also represented at “Come and Try” clinics after school, with the Penrith Panthers players introducing new children to Rugby League and signing autographs at the local club in Doonside in an attempt to support its 2009 recruitment.