When Ryde-Eastwood Hawks RLFC CEO Carl Pozzato first came across Play in Purple, it wasn’t in a boardroom or through a formal campaign pitch. It was on the sidelines of a soccer field, watching his kids and their teammates run around in purple socks.
“I first discovered Play in Purple out on the soccer field with my kids wearing the purple socks,” Carl said.
The simple but powerful idea stayed with him. Players pulling on purple socks, families asking what they represented, and a local sporting club using its weekend games to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer.
For Carl, it felt like something the Ryde-Eastwood rugby league community could get behind.
“We said, let’s do it! Then it was discussed at board level, and we decided to do socks for all the clubs.”
With one in four people knowing someone impacted by the disease it’s no wonder that the cause has touched the club personally, making their involvement in Play in Purple especially meaningful.
Since first getting involved in 2022, Ryde-Eastwood Hawks RLFC has helped grow Play in Purple into a community-wide effort, with more than 1,000 players across the senior club and its affiliated junior clubs pulling on purple socks to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer in 2026.
On the weekend of 1 and 2 August, Ryde-Eastwood Hawks RLFC, North Ryde JRLFC, Holy Cross Rhinos JRLFC, Dundas Shamrocks JRLFC and Carlingford Cougars JRLFC will take to the field in purple, turning a weekend of footy into a visible show of support for Australians impacted by pancreatic cancer.
A community united in purple
For Ryde-Eastwood, Play in Purple has become more than a themed round. It is a way to bring the senior and junior rugby league community together behind a cause that affects thousands of Australian families every year.
From the youngest players pulling on purple socks for the first time, to senior teams helping lead the way, the weekend will help raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and spark conversations among players, parents, volunteers and supporters.
We started off small and grew every year. The board has been really supportive by purchasing the socks on behalf of the teams - even the referees don purple socks!
Carl says the strength of the campaign lies in its simplicity.
Every pair of purple socks worn on the field helps make pancreatic cancer more visible. Every question from the sideline creates an opportunity to talk about a disease that is often diagnosed late and remains one of Australia’s most challenging cancers.
About Play in Purple
Play in Purple is Pankind’s national sporting campaign, bringing community sporting clubs across Australia together to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer.
Each year, players take to the field or court in purple socks, sparking conversations, showing support and helping bring pancreatic cancer out of the shadows.
In 2026, clubs across Australia are working together towards an incredible goal: raising $1 million for pancreatic cancer research.
Together towards $1million
While most clubs will play in purple on 25 and 26 July, Ryde-Eastwood will proudly pull on their purple socks on 1 and 2 August, with more than 1,000 players helping turn the weekend purple.
Pankind thanks the entire Ryde-Eastwood rugby league community for getting behind Play in Purple and helping make every pair of purple socks count.
