Rugby players in Australia stage boycott over Pride flag jersey
Seven 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 (28 July), 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.
The game is considered important to the club’s chances of making the NRL finals. However, players weren’t consulted when the decision to wear the ‘Everyone in the league’ jersey was made and some have objected to the move on religious and cultural grounds.
As league rules prevent players from the same team wearing different jerseys, these players won’t participate in the match. Local media has identified the seven players as Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolu Koula and Toafofoa Sipley.
