Every NRL club, together with NRL ambassadors, will set out on the road over the next two months, visiting schools and communities right across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

This is the 16th year of the NRL Community Carnival, with more than 250,000 pupils reached as part of Carnival visits in 2015.

This season, clubs, players and ambassadors are estimated to travel more than 40,000km, visit more than 1000 schools and conduct up to 80 junior league clinics.

Dane Gagai, Mickey Paea, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Jack Stockwell and Luke Yates will make the trip to Aberdeen and Scone on Wednesday, February 3, to help deliver wellbeing messages to local communities, with a particular focus on proper hydration and sleep and encouraging a strong sense of belonging.

NRL chief operating officer Suzanne Young said the NRL Community Carnival visits were an opportunity for rugby league to reach out to thousands of supporters and club fans in regional and remote areas and give back ahead of 2016 Telstra Premiership season.

“Our fans are the lifeblood of our game and our clubs and ambassadors do an amazing job in local communities right throughout the year, spending time with kids and educating them on the importance of eating well and staying healthy,” Ms Young said.

Players will be joined by NRL game development officers in delivering wellbeing programs to locals, which include interactive activities, together with educational resources.

Knights player Jack Stockwell said he was looking forward to the trip and relaying some of the healthy tips that he follows as part of training on a day-to-day basis.

“As a player and as a person, it is really important that I keep my mind and my body healthy so that I am performing at my best,” he said.

“I’m keen to get out on the road, meeting the locals and providing people with some really simple tips to keep happy, healthy and active.”