The Dragons this week commenced a month-long annual pre-season community blitz throughout the St George, Illawarra and Central West of New South Wales regions.
The Dragons' 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership squad will travel to 35 schools between them and host a dozen rugby league clinics over the course of February.
Dragons Community and NRL development officers with the support of a variety of NRL Women's Premiership, Jersey Flegg and NRL development players as well as club ambassadors Matt Cooper, Sam Bremner and Kezie Apps, the Dragons will visit almost 100 schools overall.
Hundreds of kids will be able to meet their favourite Dragons players including Tariq Sims, Zac Lomax, Matt Dufty, Tyson Frizell and Ben Hunt as well as new recruits Korbin Sims and Corey Norman.
The Dragons will participate in education lessons with students, focusing on the importance of respect and cyber right, resilience and overall wellbeing.
Dragons skipper Gareth Widdop visited Thirroul Public School on Thursday as part of the community blitz.
"To give back to the local community and get out to the schools throughout our region is very rewarding for the playing group," Widdop said.
"Everyone in the St George, Illawarra and in the Central West of New South Wales love their footy, and I hope they take plenty out the important messages we present to them during these visits."
The Dragons' community blitz coincides with the beginning of the junior rugby league season. To find out how you can get involved in either junior league or
participating in an after-school non-contact program, click on the links.
Illawarra school blitz '19