For three days this weekend, the whistle at Lismore’s sporting precinct will signal more than the start of a footy match.
The Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Carnival returns from Friday to Sunday, bringing thousands of players, families and supporters together for one of the Northern Rivers’ biggest annual First Nations gatherings.
Hosted by Northern United Rugby League Football Club, the Dirawongs, the carnival has been running since 2006 and now draws teams representing Aboriginal communities from across NSW.
Organiser Chris Binge sums up the event simply: ‘It’s not just a footy game, it’s not just about rugby league, it’s about culture.’
That culture is carried as much in the sidelines as on the field, with families reconnecting, kids watching older players and communities catching up with relatives and friends from across the region.
The NSW Government says the carnival has grown into one of the most popular cultural and sporting events on the Northern Rivers calendar, while Lismore Council expects close to 10,000 people across the three days.
There is serious football too, with men’s and women’s teams using the event as valuable preparation for the prestigious NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout.
Northern United has also received $20,000 through the 2025–26 Aboriginal Affairs NSW Cultural Grants Program, with the event recognised for strengthening social connection, culture and wellbeing through rugby league.
The carnival runs from 8.30am to 5pm each day from September 18 to 20 at the Lismore Regional Sports Precinct.
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