Brad Fittler and Gus Worland to Cover 5,000 KM in 10 Days for Regional Tour
Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler will next week embark on an ambitious Hogs motorcycle ride covering 5000km and 24 regional NSW towns in 10 days to support local communities and promote Rugby League participation.
It is the first Hogs tour, which is one of the main programs of the NSWRL Foundation, around regional NSW in two years after 2020 was disrupted by the summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tour will be spread over two weeks (8-12 February and 15-19 February), taking in 13 schools, conducting six free football clinics, and handing out 2,400 footballs.
Fittler will be joined by Gus Worland, Founder of Gotcha4Life, who will deliver messages about mental fitness to high school children. The pair teamed up last year to lift community spirits in areas including Queanbeyan, Canberra, Griffith and Tumut.
True Blues Nathan Hindmarsh and Steve Menzies will be involved for a portion of the tour will be involved for a portion of the tour which will also include a training session with Sydney Roosters players and Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues James Tedesco and Angus Crichton, and Blues hopeful Victor Radley.
Week One of the tour (8-12 February) will take in the far north coast and north-west of NSW with riders travelling a combined 2,079km and visiting towns including Lennox Head and Warialda.
Week Two (15-19 February) will take in the far south coast and south-west of NSW with the riders travelling a combined 3,229km and visiting towns including Albury and Orange.
Fittler, who was a founding member of the annual charity ride, “Hogs For The Homeless”, which began in 2013 and has raised more than $760,000 for Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets program, said he was looking forward to connecting with all NSW fans across the state.
“One of the things I love the most about my job as coach of the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues is that it gives me the opportunity to connect with all our supporters, from Bourke to Bankstown,” Fittler said.
“The state had a pretty tough time last year because of the bushfires and coronavirus and I missed not being able to travel around as freely as I have in previous years.
“I can’t wait to jump back on the bike again, get around the great state of NSW, play footy with the local kids and deliver some important messages about mental fitness to any communities who might be still doing it tough.”
Worland said: “I love going out with Freddy, the Hogs and the team at NSWRL because not only do we get to meet some really fantastic people, but we get to talk about mental fitness.
“I believe if you look at the statistics, mental fitness is required even more in rural Australia. Through the clinics, we are able to raise the importance of mental fitness in a fun and engaging way which allows us to have those meaningful conversations.”
The NSWRL Foundation aims to use Rugby League to drive social change in the community through its support of charity partners and programs including Gotcha4Life and Youth Off The Streets.
Mr Ajaka said: “It is great to see our Blues coach Brad Fittler and the Hogs back on the road in regional New South Wales this year visiting 24 towns in 10 days and using the power of Rugby League to make a difference in these local communities after a tough 2020 for everyone in the community.”
WEEK ONE (8-12 February)
Monday 8 February
What: Hogs High School visit
Where: Gloucester High School, 129 Ravenshaw Street, Gloucester
When: 12.45pm-1.45pm (media to assemble at 12.30pm)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler
Tuesday 9 February
What: Hogs High School visit
Where: Warialda High School, 17 Apollo Avenue, Warialda
When: 2.30-3pm (media to assemble at 2.15pm)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler
What: Hogs football clinic
Where: Nicholson Oval, Nicholson Street, Warialda
When: 4pm (media to assemble at 3.45pm)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler
Wednesday 10 February
What: Hogs High School visit
Where: Tenterfield High School, 89 High Street, Tenterfield
When: 11.30am-12.15pm (media to assemble at 11.15am)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler
What: Lennox Head beach clinic
Where: Lennox Head beach
When: 4pm (media to assemble at 3.45pm)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler and Sydney Roosters players
WEEK TWO (15-19 February)
Monday 15 February
What: Hogs High School visit
Where: Mulwaree High School, 40 McDermott Drive, Goulburn
When: 1.15pm-1.45pm (media to assemble at 1pm)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler
What: Hogs football clinic
Where: Mackay Park, Princes Highway, Batemans Bay
When: 4.30pm (media to assemble at 4.15pm)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler
Tuesday 16 February
What: Bega High School visit
Where: Bega High School, Upper Street and Eden Street, Bega
When: 9.30am (media to assemble at 9.15am)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler
What: Hogs football clinic
Where: Cooma Showground, Cromwell Street, Cooma
When: 4.30pm (media to assemble at 4.15pm)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler True Blues Nathan Hindmarsh and Steve Menzies
Wednesday 17 February
What: Hogs High School visit
Where: Tumut High School, 2/20 Bogong Place, Tumut
When: 12pm (media to assemble at 11.45am)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler
What: Hogs football clinic
Where: Sarvaas Park, 944 Curlew Crescent, North Albury
When: 4pm (media to assemble at 3.45pm)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler, True Blues Nathan Hindmarsh and Steve Menzies
Thursday 18 February
What: Hogs High School visit
Where: Temora High School, 159 Anzac Street, Temora
When: 10.30am (media to assemble at 10.15am)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler
What: Hogs football clinic
Where: King George Oval, Charles Street, Blayney
When: 4.30pm (media to assemble at 4.15pm)
Who: Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler