AUSTRALIA’S SYDNEY CONVICTS club will make history this weekend when they become the first gay rugby team in the world to play on the same bill as a professional match.
The Convicts will take on Macquarie University in the curtain-raiser to the Super Rugby game between the Waratahs and New Zealand’s Highlanders in Sydney on Sunday.
The game is part of efforts by Australia’s professional sports to tackle homophobia.
During the ‘Tahs v ‘Landers game, the Allianz Stadium big screen will also air an anti-homophobia advertisement featuring prominent Australian sportsmen — Wallaby David Pocock, Test cricketer Mitchell Johnson, Socceroo Harry Kewell and National Rugby League players Paul Gallen and Nate Myles.
“The Sydney Convicts are very excited and proud to be the first gay and inclusive rugby team to be invited to play as part of a professional sporting match,” team president David Whitaker said.
“Often discrimination and homophobia is based on stereotypes that gay people are somehow weak and they can’t play tough sports like rugby.
We hope this game helps to challenge these misconceptions while also raising awareness that homophobia in sport is still a major issue and gay people often still feel unwelcome.”
Wallaby legend Nick Farr-Jones, who is chairman of NSW Rugby, said his organisation was proud to help the Sydney Convicts tackle homophobia.
“Rugby is very committed to making our sport welcoming to everyone, regardless of their sexuality,” Farr-Jones said.
“I hope this historic curtain raiser will help us continue to send a strong message that there is no room for discrimination of any kind in rugby, both on and off the field.”
Will they get offended by a shout of “not straight” if there’s a crooked throw into a line out?
If this does not make comments of the week, it’ll be criminal!
Apparently Nigal Owens was refing a match and called a crucked throw in at a line out, when the offending hooker disputed the call his response ( in the welsh accent) was “you’ve got to be kidding, I’m straighter than that thrown in”! It took a few moments for both sets of forwards to compose themselves!!
The Bears would be a great nickname for a gay rugby team
Played against these in a pre season game in Sydney a few years back.
They had this massive centre about 6’4″ and 16stone, who they called “Big Girl”.
When he had the ball and broke the line it was a chorus of shouts of ‘Go On, Big Girl, Good Girl’!
Will be a big crowd there on Sunday!
http://youtu.be/w7Myff5xAZM
Add them to the conference next season in the new expanded format. Also, this…. Dead Cat Bounce – Rugby | Republic of Telly | RTÉ…: http://youtu.be/aTpXymuwxNs
Glad to see homophobia being tackled in sport
We do have our very own emerald warriors flying the flag.