Sports Australia

The Rabbitohs and Dragons have launched the 2010 Charity Shield at ANZ Stadium today, signaling the start to a one-month countdown to the feature pre-season Club match on the NRL calendar.

The 2010 Charity Shield, to be played on Saturday 27 February at 8pm (AEDT), will see the Rabbitohs aiming for a hat-trick of victories and will be a chance for the South Sydney players to secure a jersey for the Club’s opening game of the season, the 200th meeting between the Rabbitohs and the Roosters at ANZ Stadium on Sunday March 14.

South Sydney Head Coach John Lang was joined by captain Roy Asotasi, and new recruit and former Dragon Ben Ross in launching the 27th Charity Shield. The Rabbitohs were joined by St George Illawarra’s Head Coach Wayne Bennett, new recruit and former Rabbitoh Michael Greenfield, and Jamie Soward at the launch on the day tickets went on sale to the general public.

This year, Rabbitohs’ proceeds from the Charity Shield will support Souths Cares and their community programs such as the Teachers Aide program amongst schools in the South Sydney district and the Workplace Mentoring program conducted in Sydney and the Coffs Harbour region.

The Rabbitohs will also raise awareness for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) by wearing the ‘Silver Ribbon’ on the front of their jerseys for this match. Rabbitohs major Home corporate partner NAB is the founding partner of OCRF.

The Charity Shield crowd record for ANZ Stadium was set last year when 25,871 Members and supporters came to the Rabbitohs home ground to see the red and greens win their second straight Charity Shield.

The Rabbitohs and Dragons are in a head-to-head battle to become the first NSW Club to reach 10,000 Ticketed Members, with South Sydney urging their supporters to become a Ticketed Member for the 2010 season.

Rabbitohs Head Coach John Lang will field his strongest possible side in the Charity Shield.

“We’ll be fielding our best team as we put the final touches to our pre-season preparation and work towards round one,” Lang said.

“I think it will be exciting for our Members to see our new players on the field together at our home ground for the first time, and from a footy point of view it will be good for us to see how these guys perform in an NRL competition-style match.”

Rabbitohs captain Roy Asotasi said the Charity Shield is always a special occasion.

“This will be my fourth Charity Shield and it’s always a great game to play in,” Asotasi said.

“This will be our final chance to get things right on the field before we play the Roosters in round one so it’s much more than a trial game.

“It’s also good to be able to support Souths Cares and help raise awareness for the work done by OCRF.”

Rabbitohs recruit Ben Ross will be playing for a position in the Rabbitohs forward pack at the Charity Shield, pending receiving a clearance to play again on February 4.

“It’s been a long road back for me after breaking my neck last season and once I get the all-clear from the doctor, I’ll be setting my sights on the Charity Shield and round one,” Ross said.

“I made my first grade debut with the Dragons and I know the Charity Shield is important to both Clubs in terms of preparation for the season, and also off-field considerations such as a Membership and Sponsorship.

“I’m jumping out of my skin to play and hopefully I can perform well enough to play in the Charity Shield and to get a spot in the round one team.”

Tickets for the 2010 Charity Shield are on sale to the general public now from Ticketek. To purchase tickets from Ticketek you can do so online by visiting www.ticketek.com.au, on the phone by calling 132 849, or by visiting any Ticketek agency.