The success of the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars has seen Queensland win one of Rugby League’s biggest prizes for the next three years.<br><br>Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, today announced the National Rugby League and Queensland Events had signed a partnership that will not only see the Rugby League All Stars remain in Queensland for 2011-2013, but also the inclusion of an Indigenous Festival on the Gold Coast in 2011.<br><br>Inaugural Indigenous All Stars Scott Prince and Greg Bird joined NRL All Stars Darren Lockyer and Luke Bailey along with ARL Indigenous Council Chairman, William ‘Smiley’ Johnstone, and Premier Bligh for today’s announcement at Skilled Park, which will host the 2011 event on Saturday, February 12.<br><br>NRL Club Members can from tomorrow (August 11) begin purchasing their tickets for the 2011 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars, with MyNRL members able to buy their tickets on August 12 and all other Rugby League fans from next Wednesday (August 18).<br><br>The All Stars remains the only representative match in Australian sport in which the public selects the make-up of the teams that feature the best Indigenous Rugby League talent in the country and representatives of each NRL Club as well as players from the Australian, New Zealand and other Test teams.<br><br>Today’s announcement unveiled some of the details of the two-day Bumehla Festival that will build on an All Stars celebration that has already become the symbol of Rugby League’s commitment to Indigenous Australia and to promoting harmony across all cultures. Pronounced Boo-mah-la, the Festival name means “Celebration of the people”.<br><br>The free public Festival will be held at Broadwater Parklands from February 11-12 and will include a series of Indigenous arts, heritage and sporting activities and entertainment, culminating in a live telecast of the game on a giant screen.<br><br>“The All Stars has captured the imagination of the Rugby League community and we are pleased to be partnering with the Queensland Government to continue developing this event over the next three years,” NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said.<br><br>“This event celebrates the diversity in our game and how Rugby League brings people together to support and help enrich the lives of communities in need.<br> <br>“The All Stars has already had an amazing impact on Indigenous communities around Australia and in 2011 we look forward to building on this legacy through the Bumehla Festival at Broadwater Parklands.<br><br>“Given the 2010 game was a sell-out more than a month before it was staged, the Broadwater Parklands live site will also provide a great location for people to come together and enjoy the game on the Saturday night.”<br><br>Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today said the All Stars was about much more than a sporting competition.<br><br>“No-one will forget the inaugural match played in February this year at Skilled Park,” Ms Bligh said.<br><br>“Indigenous players had dreamt of this opportunity for decades and wore their jersey with tremendous pride.<br><br>“The game was sold out months in advance and 27,000 fans watched the Indigenous All Stars win 16-12 in a fiercely competitive game.<br><br>“It also raised $1.5 million which has been reinvested back into community programs with a particular focus on Indigenous areas.<br><br>“Get ready for that excitement to be repeated as the first match under our new agreement is played on 12 February 2011 at Skilled Park.”<br><br>The Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars brings together the game’s best Indigenous and non-Indigenous players in a unique celebration of the diversity of Rugby League.<br><br>Both teams boast 20-man squads, with the ARL Indigenous Council selecting four members of the Indigenous All Stars team and the Australian and New Zealand Test Captains gaining automatic selection to the NRL All Stars.<br><br>The remaining positions in each team will be determined by public vote with the pre-requisite for the NRL All Stars being that one player from each NRL team must feature in the players voted for by the public.<br><br>“It was a real honour to play in the first ever All Stars game and represent the Indigenous community,” 2010 Indigenous All Star and ‘Learn. Earn. Legend!’ ambassador, Scott Prince, said today.<br><br>“This is one of the most important games I’ve been involved in and to see so many players and fans get behind that week on the Gold Coast and all the community programs since shows just how much Rugby League and the All Stars is helping the community.”<br><br>In addition to attracting a sell-out crowd and a live television audience of more than 1.2million viewers, the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars provides an ongoing legacy helping people and communities in need across Australia.<br><br>This year’s inaugural event raised $1.5million which is currently being reinvested back into community programs through Rugby League’s One Community and NRL Clubs, with a particular focus on closing the gap in Indigenous education, employment and health.<br><br>“The significance of the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars goes well beyond that of a football game,” Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council Chairman, William ‘Smiley’ Johnstone, said.<br><br>“The event reinforces the strong links between Rugby League and Indigenous Australia, not only through the concept itself but also through the support the event delivers to Indigenous communities.<br><br>“The new Bumehla Festival is a great addition to the 2011 event and will enable Rugby League fans to be an even greater part of the wonderful spirit of this event.”<br><br>The 2011 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars will be played at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Saturday, February 12 – the evening prior to the third anniversary of the Federal Government’s National Apology to the Stolen Generations.<br><br>NRL Club Members can from 9am to 7pm AEST tomorrow (August 11) secure their tickets for the game through Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au, by calling 132 849 or at any Ticketek outlet.<br><br>MyNRL members will be able to purchase their tickets from 9am to 7pm AEST on Thursday, August 12. Anyone can become a MyNRL member for free by registering at NRL.com.<br><b><br>CLICK ON the MyNRL logo at the top of this page to register now.</b><br><br>Tickets for all other Rugby League fans will go on sale from 9am AEST on Wednesday, August 18.<br><b><br>2011 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars Ticket Categories and Prices</b><br><br>Price Category Adult Concession Junior Family<br>1 $95.00 $75.00 $65.00 $255.00<br>2 $60.00 $45.00 $35.00 $155.00<br>3 $30.00 $25.00 $20.00 $80.00<br><br>New Zealand customers can call 0800 842 538 or +61 132 849.
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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
