Rugby League

Indigenous, opens in a new tab, NRL, (accessed 18 August 2025). At the NRL we aim to unite, educate, and inspire by championing equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the National Rugby League and throughout Australia.

Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council (ALRIC), opens in a new tab. Oversees the implementation of the Reconciliation Action Plan, ensures that views and ideas of Indigenous peoples are incorporated from across the game. Programs include:

• Indigenous Round, opens in a new tab. NRL Indigenous Round aims to highlight significant social issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is also an opportunity for the game to cement our commitment to the Indigenous community and celebrate the unique relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and rugby league.
• All Stars, opens in a new tab. All-Stars is a week-long celebration of Rugby League’s commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities across Australia. Through hosting the annual All-Stars game between Indigenous All Stars and Māori All Stars the game acknowledges and continues the legacy of the first Australian Aboriginal Rugby League team formed in 1973 through the Indigenous All-Stars team.
• School to Work, opens in a new tab. An Education and Employment Program Supporting Indigenous Youths since 2012. The NRL utilises the positive profile of the game of Rugby League to support young Indigenous Australians with work experience, mentoring and leadership opportunities to ensure they successfully complete school and transition into further study, training or meaningful employment.

NRL Cowboys House, opens in a new tab is removing distance as a barrier to quality secondary education for Indigenous students from some of Australia's most remote and educationally disadvantaged communities. The House is a unique, culturally safe boarding facility for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women attending partner schools in Townsville. Students are supported by dedicated teams in education, wellbeing, culture and career transitions in a holistic wraparound model of care. Managed by the Cowboys Community Foundation, the charity arm of the North Queensland Cowboys, NRL Cowboys House is a joint initiative between the National Rugby League, North Queensland Cowboys, the Queensland Government, and the Australian Government.

Cultural Choice Association, opens in a new tab. 'Boots for a Brighter Future' is just one of a number of initiatives run by the Cultural Choice Association, an organisation run by Watson and his family with the goal of raising awareness and support around Indigenous youth suicide. It provides Indigenous youth with an opportunity to connect with their culture and identity through art, whilst partnering with NRL clubs in the fight against youth suicide.

• How Sydney Roosters star Connor Watson is helping lead the fight against Indigenous youth suicide, opens in a new tab, Nick Campton, ABC, (18 May 2023).

New South Wales

• NSW Koori Rugby League Knockout Carnival, opens in a new tab, Wikipedia, (accessed 13 August 2025). One of the biggest Indigenous gatherings in Australia. The very first knockout was held at Camdenville Oval, St Peters, on the October long weekend of 1971 with eight participating teams. The winning teams gains the right to hold the next knockout. Organisers created the knockout as an alternative more accessible to Indigenous players than the state rugby league.

Queensland

• Murri Rugby League Carnival, opens in a new tab. The Queensland Murri Carnival (QAIHC Arthur Beetson Foundation Murri Rugby League Carnival) is an annual four-day rugby league carnival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queensland rugby league teams. The carnival has certain basic rules, players cannot compete unless they undergo a health check and adult players must enrol to vote or, if enrolled, ensure their enrolment details are correct. Players under 15 years must also undergo a health check and have a 90% school attendance record.