It was an action-packed morning at Harold Caterson Reserve as local club, Moorabbin Rams, hosted its inaugural Love the Game round.
With support from Love the Game partner Rugby Victoria and the City of Kingston, the event went off with a bang as Endeavour Hills, Melbourne Unicorns, Brimbank, Wyndham and Footscray Rugby Union Clubs bringing the heat in a competitive and fun-filled morning of junior rugby.
Players and parents from various clubs packed the fields donning customised Love the Game badges in support of their local club.
Having recently committed to Love the Game, the Rams wasted no time volunteering to promote the program and, more importantly, encourage other clubs within the league to sign-up.
Rugby Victoria CEO Chris Evans believes grassroots clubs and competitions can play an important role in demonstrating to young people the value of sport without betting.
‘We’re thrilled to partner with the Love the Game program because sport is about making friends, staying fit and building a family with your teammates out on the field,’ Evans said.
‘That’s why it’s great to have events like this where we can get into the community and support kids to love the game, not the odds.’
With a focus on combatting the excessive level of sports betting ads seen by young Victorians, the Love the Game program also endeavours to inform them, in an environment free from gambling paraphernalia, about the risks and harms associated with sports betting.
‘We’ve taken a strong stance against the promotion of sports gambling and I’m proud that our members are role models for the young people in our community.’
City of Kingston Mayor Hadi Saab was also impressed by the Rams’ stance on gambling ads.
‘We’re proud to see sporting clubs in our community make conscious decisions to remove themselves from the grips of gambling revenue through programs like Love the Game,’ Saab said.
‘The council has been proactive in limiting the exposure of young people to sports betting ads, including by investing in Love the Game signage at various grounds and reminding parents that sport and betting don’t need to go together.
‘We understand the risks and harms associated with gambling and want to protect our young people from constant betting promotions,’ he said.
Clubs, state bodies and professional teams that join Love the Game refuse to take sponsorship from gambling companies.