This week marks the Queensland Rugby Union’s twelfth annual Indigenous Round, with the Reds facing the Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
For the first time at home in Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific in 2023, Queensland will wear their Indigenous jersey, designed by Future Indigenous Leaders Program (FILP) student Nelliarnah Saltner in collaboration with Canterbury of New Zealand.
The jersey features purple and pink dots and circles, representing communities including Cherbourg and Woorabinda. The dots around the circles represent domestic violence and breast cancer, challenges these communities face.
Saltner said: “What inspired me to do this design is that every single person who went through breast cancer or domestic violence, fought.
“They all fought for their lives, whether they passed or survived, they all fought. And that’s what really inspired me to do this painting.
“I did this design because I thought it would best describe it more. The journey wave in the middle describes the challenges against breast cancer and domestic violence. Not only in our culture but in all cultures.
“The dots around the journey wave on the outside are communities that are coming together as one community.”
Queensland Rugby Union Indigenous Strategy Manager Dylan Blackman said: “We’re really proud to have Nellie design our Indigenous jersey once again this year.
“Indigenous Round is a special occasion for everyone at the QRU.
“It’s an opportunity for the game to walk together alongside our Indigenous community and celebrate the unique relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Rugby Union.”
The Reds take on the Blues at Suncorp Stadium this Friday night. Buy tickets via https://bit.ly/3NO63Ye.
