A decade after Preston Campbell's vision first became a reality on the Gold Coast, the Harvey Norman All Stars clash will return to Cbus Super Stadium in 2020.
For the second year running, Indigenous and Maori male and female teams will face off in a double-header on Saturday, February 22.
The inaugural Indigenous All Stars game in 2010 proved to be a wonderful celebration for the game and ARL Indigenous Council chair Katrina Fanning said returning to the Gold Coast was a fitting tribute to the initiative.
“The All Stars concept has grown enormously since the first game in 2010, with an emphasis on celebrating the event alongside players and fans in the week leading up to the games and including representative male and female teams,” Fanning said.
“I’m looking forward to joining fans in February next year on the Gold Coast and I encourage new and existing All Stars supporters to join together in celebrating Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori history and heritage.”
Earlier this year AAMI Park in Melbourne played host to the All Stars weekend with the Australian Indigenous All Stars taking on the New Zealand Maori Kiwis for the first time.
That format will be replicated in 2020 with the women's Indigenous and Maori teams kicking off the double-header, followed by the men.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley said the matches would celebrate the remarkable contribution Indigenous and Maori players have made to rugby league.
“Some of the very best players the game has ever seen come from Indigenous and Maori heritage," Annesley said.
"There’s no doubt that both matches will showcase an exciting brand of rugby league. I know it’s an occasion the players really look forward to.
“It’s wonderful to see this event back on the Gold Coast, the original home of the All Stars concept.”
Gold Coast Titans stars Ryan James and Kevin Proctor were joined by Broncos NRLW players Amber Pilley and Rona Peters for the announcement on the Gold Coast on Thursday morning.
The 2020 showpiece comes a decade after the inaugural Indigenous All Stars side featuring Johnathan Thurston, Scott Prince, Wendell Sailor, Sam Thaiday and Campbell beat the NRL All Stars 16-12.
Tickets for the 2020 All Stars double-header will go on sale in December and you can register you interest at pan66.com/waitlist.
