Council will welcome a host of former rugby league stars to take on a team of local legends after partnering with International Legends of League (ILOL) for an event on Saturday, 1 April.
Councillors will support ILOL as presenting sponsors for their event, which will see a NQ Indigenous All-Stars team including ex-Cowboys stars Matt Bowen and Scott Prince team take on the ILOL Australian Legends, featuring a host of former NRL, State of Origin and Australian representative stars.
Former Cowboys premiership winners Antonio Winterstein and Ben Hannant will also be involved along with Brisbane Broncos and Maroons legend and Townsville junior Sam Thaiday.
The ILOL event goes for four days and includes school clinics, club visits and social events with the rugby league legends before culminating with the exhibition game at the Townsville Sports Precinct on Saturday, 1 April.
Townsville is a sustainable destination that embraces and participates in the arts, sports, events and recreational activities and Finance and Business Services and Finance Committee Chair Cr Margie Ryder said Council was happy to support this great event.
"Townsville City Grants and Partnerships support the creation, implementation, and delivery of community initiatives that make a positive contribution to the Townsville community and that's exactly what ILOL is," Cr Ryder said.
"It will be wonderful to see some Townsville greats take on the NRL legends but what's even more exciting is the impact these players will have when they're out in the community spreading positive messages.
"Townsville is a rugby league mad city and these legends will be out in our community and at schools speaking about the importance of exercise and mental health with Health and Wellbeing Queensland."
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill was looking forward to seeing some past legends return to action in Townsville and highlighted the role they can play as role models to youth in the region.
"These returning players are taking time out of their calendars to give back to the game they love and engage with young people in Townsville," she said.
"It's great to hear they will be getting out among our community and engaging with our youth, who can learn plenty about hard work and determination from these positive role models."
