Australian Rugby Players Boycott Over Pride Flag Jersey
July 26, 2022Seven players in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) plan to boycott a key match over their team’s decision to wear a Pride flag jersey.
On Thursday (July 28), the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will become the first team in the competition ever to don a kit which promotes LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the sport, according to Gay Times.
The game is vital to the club’s chances of making the NRL finals.
The decision to wear the "Everyone in the league" jersey was made without consulting the players and some have objected on religious and cultural grounds.
League rules say players from the same team must wear the same jersey, so these players won’t participate in the match.
Local media has named the seven players as Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolu Koula, and Toafofoa Sipley.
Des Hasler, the club’s coach, has apologized, saying they made a “significant mistake” that caused “confusion, discomfort, and pain for many people, in particular those groups whose human rights we were in fact attempting to support.”
“Their spirituality is a central part of their wellbeing. The club has made an error from which it will learn. The players will not play on Thursday and we accept their decision,” he added. Hasler also confirmed the team would wear the jersey on Thursday’s game.
The players’ decision has sparked backlash online.
Sports journalist Pam Whaley responded to the incident on Twitter. “What infuriates me (and always has) is that players will boycott over a rainbow but never boycott a teammate if he’s been accused of violence against women or any other morally reprehensible behavior that they would all agree they don’t condone. I do not understand it.”
The seven players have been accused of hypocrisy, pointing out that the team is sponsored by a brewery and betting agency.
Former Manly star Ian Roberts – the first-ever former NRL player to come out as gay – said the the boycott “breaks his heart.”
In a column for the Sydney Morning Herald, he said, “Can you not understand the pain visited upon gay people who, no matter what they do, are disrespected simply for being gay?”
Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, commended Manly for the decision, saying it’s “important in Australian society that we respect everyone for who they are.”
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