National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
For the sixth consecutive year, the BentSpoke John I Dent Cup will hold First Nations Round across Round 13 fixtures, where all John I Dent Cup and Premier 15s teams will wear unique home and away socks displaying indigenous designs from proud Wiradjuri artist Jayden McLachlan.
McLachlan, who's brother Dylan is a member of the ACT Brumbies Pathways Program and plays for Canberra Royals, hand-painted the design for the Brumbies 2023 First Nations strip, elements of which have been incorporated into the socks design.
These socks are just one way our rugby community hopes to create a space of respect, strength, unity and acknowledgment of the rich culture of First Nations people.
Additionally, the ACT Rugby Referees Association have launched their own 2023 NAIDOC jersey, with artwork from Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi/Ngunnawal artist Lynnice Church, which will be worn by all senior appointed referees on Saturday 8 July.
Teams throughout the ACT & Southern NSW region will be hosting their own celebrations on July 8, to recognise the importance of making progress towards Reconciliation.
