St George Illawarra players are keeping the rugby league flame burning around the St George district this week in the lead up to Saturday night’s Charity Shield.
With the season kick-off only three weeks away, the Dragons players and NRL game development officers Jodie Gatehouse and Huw Ellis headed out to schools for the first time in 2016 this week.
Athelstane Public School at Arncliffe was one of eleven they visited on Thursday.
Other schools visited on Thursday were St Patricks Catholic Primary School, St Raphaels Primary at South Hurstville, Hurstville Adventist, Ramsgate Primary School, Brighton Primary School, Beverly Hills Primary School, Beverly Hills North Primary School, Carlton Primary School, Peakhurst South Primary School and Oatley Primary School.
St George Illawarra education ambassador and former NRL forward Dan Hunt said the visits were timely with the season about to start.
Hunt played 150 games in the Red V before he retired last year from a chronic knee injury.
‘‘This is the first week of the schools blitz for this year and we do about 100 visits a year,’’ Hunt told The Leader.
‘‘It’s something we enjoy doing and we speak to the children about health and fitness and having fun playing rugby league and sport.’’
Hunt also promotes The Best You Can Be – Student Diary at all schools.
Dragons winger Jason Nightingale and Kingsgrove Colts junior and under-20s centre Izaac Thompson were among the players at Athelstane Public.
Nightingale, a Renown United junior, said he enjoyed visiting schools and meeting young Dragons fans.
He was swamped by autograph hunters as the boys and girls asked the international winger to sign their hats.
There are 310 students at Athelstane Public School.
‘‘It’s good to get out and meet the kids and talk about footy,’’ Nightingale said.
Nightingale said the enthusiasm of the students at Athelstane Public School was fantastic.
The Dragons are holding a Come and Try Rugby League event at Jubilee Oval, Carlton on Wednesday between 5pm and 7.30pm.
