Seven Manly Warringah Eagles players to boycott rugby league match over gay pride jersey – صحيفة الصوت

Seven rugby league players are boycotting a match on Thursday over their team’s decision to wear a gay pride jersey. 

The ABC understands Manly Sea Eagles stars Josh Aloiai, Toafofoa Sipleym, Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu,  Haumole Olakau’atu, Jason Saab and Josh Schuster have refused to play due to their religious and personal beliefs. 

The club’s management team held an emergency meeting last night to take control of the fallout.

Writing about the matter on social media this morning, Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells told her social media followers: “It’s all the same love.”

“Club uniforms are a matter for clubs but I think Macklemore said it best already — it’s all the Same Love,” she said referencing a popular song about gay pride. 

Loading

On Sunday, the club announced it would wear an LGBTQIA+ jersey for the Round 20 match against the Roosters at Brookvale.

A rainbow design replaces the usual strip’s white hoops to celebrate “inclusiveness”, with Kieran Foran, Reuben Garrick and Sean Keppie among those who launched the jersey on social media. 

But the decision has sparked unrest among players who were not consulted by the club.

Interim Sea Eagles CEO Gary Wolman said the club was proud to spread an important message.

“The Sea Eagles have such a rich and diverse history in rugby league and in the community,” Wolman said.

“[It’s] a fantastic achievement and we are pleased to be able to share such an important message that means so much to many people in the community.”

Manly legend and the first NRL player to come out openly as gay in 1995, Ian Robert, told The Daily Telegraph the decision by the seven players “breaks his heart”. 

“It’s sad and uncomfortable,” he said.

“As an older gay man, this isn’t unfamiliar.

“I did wonder whether there would be any religious push back.

“That’s why I think the NRL have never had a pride round.

“I can promise you every young kid on the Northern Beaches who is dealing with their sexuality would have heard about this.”