Rugby league players refuse to play NRL game in pride jersey

SYDNEY (AP) — Seven Manly Sea Eagles players have withdrawn from a National Rugby League match because they’re unwilling to wear their club’s inclusion jersey.

The jersey has rainbow stripes and a rainbow collar, to support LGBTQ inclusion in sports, and the club plans to use it for an important game against Sydney Roosters.

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler on Tuesday said seven players advised club officials that wearing the pride jersey conflicts with their cultural and religious beliefs.

“The players will not play on Thursday and we accept their decision,” Hasler said. “These young men are strong in their beliefs and convictions and we will give them the space and support they require.

“The playing group are solid and understanding of each other’s views. As a club we will wear the jersey on Thursday night.”

Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolu Koula and Toafofoa Sipley are not available for selection on Thursday. NRL squads contain 13 starting players and four on the interchange bench.

Hasler apologized for the fallout from the club’s lack of advance consultation with the players.

“In this specific instance, I feel from these players. Not included in any of the discussions, and at a minimum, they should have been consulted,” Hasler told a news conference. “The jersey intent was to support the advocacy and human rights pertaining to gender, race, culture, ability and LGBTQ movements.”

Hasler said “poor” execution had overshadowed what was intended to be an important initiative.

“We wish to apologize to the LGBTQ community who embrace the rainbow colors, who use these colors for pride and advocacy and human rights issues,” he said.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said he understood the players’ choices, based on religious and cultural differences, but pushed for inclusion and acceptance in the sport.

“One thing I take pride in with rugby league is we treat everyone the same,” V’landys said. “It doesn’t matter your color, sexual orientation or race. We’re all equal.

“We’ll never take a backward step in having our sport inclusive. But at the same time we will not disrespect our players’ freedoms.”

The NRL does not have a designated Pride round, but V’landys said it could be a consideration for future seasons.

The Eagles are in ninth place in the NRL, one spot the Roosters. The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.

Manly was the only club planning to wear a pride jersey in this round.

Former Manly forward Ian Roberts, who in the 1990s was the first high-profile rugby league player to come out as gay, said he was not surprised by the players’ decision.

“It hasn’t totally shocked me like it’s shocking everyone else,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald. “As an older gay man I’m used to this. I expected there would be some sort of religious pushback.”

The jersey boycott dominated coverage of the NRL after it was reported late Monday by Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper said players were not aware they would be expected to wear the jersey until after it was shown to the media.

NRL rules would not allow the players to wear an alternate jersey without the rainbow messaging because match regulations require all players in a team to wear an identical strip.

Players in other sports previously have refused to wear jerseys with advertising or messages which conflict with their beliefs. In 2016, cricketer Fawad Ahmed was allowed to play in a jersey which did not carry the logo of the Australian team’s beer sponsor because of his objection to alcohol for religious reasons.

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The Associated Press