Rockhampton Regional Council Host NRL Pre-Season Game
Published on 21 December 2023
Rockhampton Regional Council is thrilled to announce an exciting sponsorship agreement with the Central Queensland Capras & Hutchinson Builders. As part of the sponsorship, the National Rugby League (NRL) Dolphins will visit Rockhampton for an action-packed pre-season clash against the CQ Capras in 2024.
The eagerly anticipated weekend is set to take place from 9th to 11th February, with a spectacular line-up of events catering to fans of all ages headlined by NRL coaching great Wayne Bennett and Dolphins Chief Executive Officer, Terry Reader.
The highlight of the weekend will be the hero match between the Dolphins and CQ Capras on Saturday, 10th February 2024 with four representative curtain raiser games to be played beforehand. The weekend will feature engaging activities such as school visits, a kids coaching clinic, guest speakers, and an all-abilities clinic.
Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said that rugby league is synonymous with Central Queensland and we are eager to extend a warm welcome to the Dolphins in our region.
“We’re proud to bring NRL back to the region. As we know, major sporting events like these not only boost our economy but also foster a sense of pride within our community and local sporting clubs,” Mayor Williams said.
“Tourism Research Australia indicates that visitors spend over $28 billion per year on domestic travel and this event provides another avenue to increase visitation to our region, fill our hotel rooms and enhance spending in our tourism and hospitality businesses.”
Parks, Sport and Public Spaces Councillor Cherie Rutherford said Rockhampton is the perfect destination for major sporting events like these with our central location and superb weather conditions.
“Rockhampton is home to national, international and Olympic standard sporting facilities that nurture beginners through to professional athletes, and we are so proud to work with the CQ Capras to welcome the Dolphins clash to our major events calendar.” Cr Rutherford said.
CQ Capras CEO Peter White echoed the enthusiasm, emphasising the significance of the event for the local community.
“To have NRL Coach Wayne Bennett and Dolphins players visit our region is a great triumph for our rugby league landscape.
“Central Queensland is known for producing great NRL talent and we look forward to that trend continuing with events such as these to foster local talent.”
“I would like to sincerely thank Rockhampton Regional Council & Hutchinson Builders for their wonderful support to enable this event to occur,” Mr White said.
Advance Rockhampton Tourism and Events Manager Zac Garven emphasised the considerable boost this sporting spectacle brings to Rockhampton's visitor economy.
“Rockhampton's Sporting Destination Guide has once again positioned us as a preferred destination among state and national sporting peak bodies. This comprehensive document showcases our sporting facilities, infrastructure, and experiences, simplifying the decision-making process for event managers,” Mr Garven said.
The Dolphins vs CQ Capras Event Weekend will be held from 9 February to 11 February 2024 at Browne Park, Rockhampton.
Tickets will go on sale later this week.
For more information about this event, visit https://capras.com.au/.
For more information about Advance Rockhampton’s Sporting Destination Guide, visit https://www.advancerockhampton.com.au/Industry/Tourism-and-Events/Sporting-Events