All Stars clash moved to Townsville for 2021
The NRL has taken the All Stars game back to the "heartland" of rugby league with the Indigenous and Maori clash to be played in Townsville for the first time in the event's history.
On Wednesday, the NRL announced they would be bypassing the event's usual venues – Suncorp and Cbus Super Stadium – and taking the game to Queensland Country Bank Stadium instead.
"I know this game will mean a lot to the local community," NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
"It brings people together and helps us celebrate First Nations people and rugby league’s incredible diversity."
ARL Indigenous council member Toby Adams said the move to Townsville would allow players to "give back" to the community.
"The greater good and the impact All Stars brings is never truly felt in the lead up to the game, or on game day, it's felt in the weeks and month and years into the future," he said.
Enduring image: Josh Addo-Carr before the 2020 Indigenous All Stars game.Credit:NRL Photos
"It's where we break down barriers and forge a great understanding and celebration of culture and some of the important issues that effect First Nations people."
During the announcement, the NRL also revealed the jersey for the men’s and women’s Indigenous teams with the design based on the concept and artwork of Chern’ee Sutton – a modern Indigenous artist and a Kalkadoon woman from the Mount Isa area.
The women’s game will play as an opener for the men's game on February 20.
Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council Chair Katrina Fanning said the All Stars concept would continue to have a greater presence in Townsville moving forward.
"It makes so much sense to include Townsville – an incredibly important rugby league region but also one with such strong links to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities," she said.
Tourism Minister and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk funded the stadium with events such as the All Stars in mind.
"Since the 2010 debut, Queensland has hosted seven of nine NRL All Stars events and Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville will make it eight from ten," he said.
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