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The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Rugby League (NRL) and its longest-running partner, Telstra, today announced the NRL Telstra Premiership Footy Country Series, a new initiative to celebrate and support rugby league communities in regional Australia during the 2024 season.

The series kicks off on Sunday, April 7 as the North Queensland Cowboys host the Gold Coast Titans in Townsville and comprises 10 themed NRL and NRLW games in total, across nine regional locations.

In each location, the NRL Telstra Premiership Footy Country Series will highlight and strengthen the deep bonds between country rugby league and the elite game. Community activities at local clubs and schools will feature junior rugby league clinics, player and trophy appearances and donating Telstra Footy Packs including hit shields, tackling bags and other football equipment.

Those local clubs and schools will then be given a once in a lifetime experience up close with their NRL and NRLW heroes on game day. Along with tickets, each junior player will get a Telstra Footy Kit, take part in an on-field clinic and form the guard of honour as teams run out for kick-off. Game days will also celebrate the local heroes who make grassroots rugby league possible in each community.

Pioneered by Telstra, the Footy Country Series aims to shine a light on regional communities, where the connection with footy runs deepest, and support children’s wellbeing through participation in the game. The initiative comes following the success of the Telstra NRL Footy Country Tour last year, which took coaching clinics, wellbeing workshops and star player appearances to over 10,000 local junior players during the 2023 Finals Series.

Amanda Hutton, Group Executive Telstra Business, said, “This game is all about belonging, connection and community, and it’s in the country where this relationship runs the deepest. It was great to see the positive difference last year’s initiative made to the physical and mental wellbeing of the kids who participated, and we’re incredibly excited to now kick off the NRL Telstra Premiership Footy Country Series. We hope that it will make a meaningful difference and inspire the next generation.”

Telstra Footy Country series schedule