It's the announcement all of Dubbo has been waiting patiently for.
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The NRL is finally set for a trip to Group 11's grounds and the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be leading the charge.
Bunnies CEO Blakey Solly made the announcement during a trip to Apex Oval today, and while details about the clash are yet to be determined due to the wait for a 2021 NRL draw, the fixture is as good as locked in.
The Rabbitohs will host at least one round in 2021 at Apex Oval, with an opponent and the exact timing still to be determined, with aims for a further clash to take place during the 2022 season.
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"The club doesn't make a speedy decision when it comes time to decide where we take the game, all the games we take away from Sydney, we do a lot of investigation and we're very proud to say that Dubbo was the choice for our third regional game," Solly said.
"We're a club that when we move games away from Sydney, we do so on a long term basis."
"We believe it's incumbent on all NRL clubs to grow the sport in our regions, we're very proud to be bringing the game to Dubbo in 2021 and 2022."
The fixture isn't expected to have any impact on Mudgee's hosting of the annual Charity Shield match-up, which Solly still anticipates will take place at Glen Willow Stadium.
A number of Dubbo players and personalities, including the likes of David Peachey and Joe Williams, as well as current first-grade squad member Braidon Burns are either from or have strong ties to Dubbo and Solly was confident that the club's investment in Dubbo would reflect the number of players who have worn the red and green.
"This'll be the first NRL game played in Dubbo... we think Dubbo is going to be a perfect fit, those of us who know our commitment to the game know we're not just going to bring the game here, bring the circus to town for a couple of days here and leave," Solly said.
"That's not our operation, we'll be wrapping around the game a vast number of community programs, Souths Care, our charity program will be here over the next twelve months and the twelve months after that in the lead-up to the next game."
"This is a 365 day commitment to the community and the game is almost just the cherry on top."
The fixture was made possible through a partnership between local member Dugald Saunders, the NRL and Dubbo Regional Council, with other fixtures set to take place across the Central Coast and the Sunshine Coast across the next two seasons.