Rugby League’s One Community was launched in December 2006 as a new department and initiative of the National Rugby League. Through the game’s players, volunteers, supporters, schools, corporates and charity partners, Rugby League’s One Community aims to use Rugby League to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Since its inception, Rugby League’s One Community has grown into the largest and most comprehensive community relations program in Australian sport. Its innovative approach utilises high profile current and ex-NRL players to spread health and education messages to schools, assist charitable causes in raising thousands of dollars annually and supports and recognises special individuals in the game.

It has achieved enormous success in these areas, through the evolution of the One Community Awards, Player’s Christmas Parties, Community Carnival, Toyota Monster Raffle, Women in League, the Ambassador Program, Eat Well Play Well Stay Well, Dream Believe Achieve, Rugby League Reads and ongoing health promotion in Indigenous and culturally diverse communities.

Through these initiatives, strong health and education messages are able to be heard by thousands of students and communities. This is more evident than ever with 96 388 Australian school children taking part in Eat Well Play Well Stay Well programs in 2011 alone. To assist in achieving this, NRL players and One Community ambassadors spend thousands of hours in the community through school reading sessions, hospital visits, coaching clinics and junior carnivals- 28,748 hours in total in 2011.

With the help of NRL Clubs, players, corporate and charity partners, Rugby League’s One Community will continue to expand its reach and fulfil its goal of making a positive difference in people’s lives.