The Queensland Rugby League and Queensland Government are teaming up to bring a rugby league spectacular to regional and rural communities in July.
With the backing of a Palaszczuk Government, which continues to invest in regional Queensland, seven massive Hostplus Cup games will head to the bush for the popular Activate Queensland! Country Week round.
Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe had the honour of announcing the match-day locations during the QRL’s coverage of the Cup this afternoon.
Hinchliffe revealed Cup matches would be played in Ayr, Sarina, Roma and Thursday Island, and for the first time in Cunnamulla, Springsure and Monto.
“Activate Queensland! Country Week is always a must-see football event in regional Queensland’s rugby league heartland,” Hinchliffe said.
“The Palaszczuk Government is investing $120,000 to bring the Hostplus Cup’s best on paddock to the country to support local visitor economies and inspire Queensland’s next generation of league talent.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to bring mates and family together for a weekend celebration of quality rugby league and the great hospitality country Queensland is famous for.
“Activate Queensland! Country Week means backing your favourite team and supporting local business and tourism operators in regional Queensland.”
QRL chief executive officer Rohan Sawyer said Activate Queensland! Country Week was always an annual highlight on the rugby league calendar.
“Regional Queensland is very much the heartland of rugby league,” Sawyer said.
“Events like this bring people together, and we’re grateful to the Queensland Government for its sponsorship and support of a program that will again generate an enormous amount of goodwill, entertainment and economic benefit for local communities.
“Activate Queensland! Country Week is about much more than a game of football – there’s school visits, community fundraisers and opportunities for our coaches and referees to upskill through course updates in each area.”
There will be endless talking points throughout an action-packed round, which includes the staging of a third Cup match at Roma’s Arthur Beetson Oval.
Defending premiers the Norths Devils will play the Burleigh Bears at the ground, which hosted its most recent Cup game in 2013 when Cameron Munster played for Central Queensland and Petero Civoniceva wore the red and white of the Redcliffe Dolphins.
Former Queensland Maroons players Dane Carlaw, Ash Harrison, Brad Meyers, Carl Webb and Adam Mogg all played in the first game at Arthur Beeston Oval in 1999.
Sarina will host just its second game when the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Mackay Cutters battle it out in a match proudly supported by the Mackay Regional Council.
Ayr will play host to its third Cup match, and its first since 2006, when the Townsville Blackhawks play the Redcliffe Dolphins.
Current Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne played for the North Queensland Young Guns in the first Cup game played in Ayr in 2003.
Activate Queensland! Country Week
Round 16 – July 23-24
Ayr – Burdekin Rugby League Park
Townsville Blackhawks v Redcliffe Dolphins
Monto – Monto Combined Sports Complex
Central Queensland Capras v Sunshine Coast Falcons
Sarina – Ray Edwards Oval
Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Mackay Cutters
Thursday Island – Ken Brown Oval
Northern Pride v Souths Logan Magpies
Springsure – Bauhinia Park
Tweed Seagulls v Ipswich Jets
Cunnamulla – John Kerr Park
Brisbane Tigers v PNG Hunters
Roma – Arthur Beetson Oval
Norths Devils v Burleigh Bears (QPlus.tv)
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