A Day to remember: NRL School Ambassador jumps on Vegas train

Not only will players and fans get a taste of life in the iconic sporting and entertainment city of Las Vegas, but Beenleigh State High School teacher Kate Day has also been given a chance to experience the state-of-the-art facilities of the US.

The Brisbane local had just 100 words to explain why she wished to go to Las Vegas as part of the NRL School Ambassador Program.

Having explained her last year establishing a successful and structured rugby league program which provides equal opportunities for their aspiring female athletes, Day received news last week she had won a trip to Las Vegas to visit local schools and watch the NRL doubleheader.

“I thought it was a stitch up, I couldn't believe it. These things don't generally happen to me so I had forgotten that I'd even applied for it. It was one of those things where I thought there's probably thousands more deserving people than me,” Day told NRL.com.

“I had to be brief, but I explained the main points of our girls program in my application.

“Since I joined the school, I've put all my time and effort into building pathways for the girls because it was a very boy orientated program, but I think we've got a lot of talent here and they just needed someone to come in and show them what we’re prepared to put in for them.

“I love to learn and in becoming an NRL School's Ambassador, I’ve got a lot of my learnings from the NRL and this is another really exciting opportunity to learn more.”

Day will visit several schools across Las Vegas over the five-day trip including Desert Oasis High School, Somerset Academy, Silvestri Charles Junior High School and Dailey Elementary School.

Having followed several of America’s female sporting competitions, the 40-year-old mother-of-four said she is excited to see how different programs are run by female coaches and school teachers across America.

“I follow a lot of their sports over there and not only their competitions but their women’s coaching space is just amazing,” Day said.

“They've got a lot of women coaches in their major leagues now, and I follow a lot of I follow a lot of the WNBA just because there's a lot of female coaches in that at the moment and they're making an impact and it's just nice to see the realisation that we can coach.

“I'm looking forward to seeing how their programs run, and how they prepare for events because there's a few big events that we’re going to.”

Having recently celebrated the success of Beenleigh State High alumni Emma Barnes’ debut for the Raiders NRLW team in 2023, Day said her aspiring rugby league players are buzzing again about her upcoming Vegas trip.

With Barnes' sister, Tameka, one of several current students contracted with BMD Premiership club Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Day is excited to bring back more knowledge and experience to put towards their rugby league program.

“I explained a bit more about the trip to them and they're like, wow, so I think when I come back with those visual photos of what schools might look like and their training it’ll mean a lot more to them than just talking about it,” she said.

“That was the whole point of being an NRL School Ambassador, was to get more exposure for my girls and just learn more because whatever I learn, I can bring back home to them.

“It's learning from those that know more than I do and different ways of doing things and other perspectives.

“Even just being around the people I'm going over with from Australia will be amazing because I'm, will be picking their brain, that's for sure.”

Fellow NRL School Ambassador Las Vegas trip winner Eamonn Kenny from Cronulla Public School will also be joining Day on the trip.