Wallaby icon John Eales says the Australian Rugby Union’s adoption of an inclusion policy that takes a stand against homophobia represents a significant day in Australian and world sport.
The ARU board, of which Eales is part of, signed off on the policy earlier this week.
It was announced in Sydney on Friday at the opening day of the Bingham Cup, the gay and inclusive rugby World Cup.
“It’s a very significant day in Australian sport today for a number of reasons and not only Australian sport, but world sport,” former Wallaby captain and lock Eales said.
“The Australian Rugby Union board on Monday ratified the inclusion and anti-homophobia policy and it was absolutely the right thing to do.
“It felt like an exciting thing to do for the sport.
“It’s a great moment in sport. A moment rugby is very, very proud to be associated with.”
Rugby is the first of the four main football codes in Australia to implement a policy which deals with tackling homophobia.
Back in April, all four codes signed a collective commitment to stamp out homophobia in each of their respective sports.
It was hoped each would have their policy completed by the start of the three-day Bingham Cup.
Tournament president Andrew Purchas was optimistic the other codes would follow through on the commitment they made earlier in the year.
“We’ve also been relying on the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Sports Commission to deal with the other codes,” Purchas said.
“I feel confident that they (the other codes) will continue to develop and implement at their own pace.
“I think what’s very important is whatever document they do agree on and the position they develop, they need to make it public.”
After the first day of the Bingham Cup, six of the 30 teams, representing 15 nations, were still unbeaten.
The pool games will be completed on Saturday with the knockout stages to run on Sunday.
Wii
Guest
Ah I think you lads actually might want to do your homework a little better. Whilst the tournament is primarily gay men there are also plenty of straight men playing in the competition. Most of the teams play in their local competitions the one thing that unites many of them is their sexuality which is no different to teams playing throughout NZ and Australia being formed along racial lines, hell both NZ and Australia have teams based on race, it's a community team which is no different to any other community. There is a long way to go before gay men are fully accepted into the rugby fold as attitudes such as that seen here are more prominent than you think. Homophobia is real especially in contact sports, in saying that I have seen the NZ Falcons boys play against a central AKL team and they were on the end of some awful verbal and in one instance physical abuse all based on their sexuality it certainly wasn't their playing ability because they were winning 30-5. After the match their opposition refused to host them as is the norm after club matches. When living in Melbourne I recall the Chargers playing and they too were subjected to a lot of verbal abuse with one guy being attacked as he left the sheds to walk to his car. How do I know my brother played for both of these teams and he would thump most people who got in his way! Sadly the comments here reflect exactly why there needs to be an initiative like this, the homophobic connotations in most of these posts are exactly what the ARU and other Australian sporting codes are trying to eradicate.
Mike
Guest
Look I couldn't care less if one or all of my team mates was gay, but this type of stuff just doesn't make sense to me. How does singling out one particular group of players (in this case gay ones) and writing special rules around the dealing with them, holding a special world cup for only players that are part of this group, and then making such a big issue about THEM and them being different to US, work for inclusion? Isn't this the exact opposite of inclusion?
Chris
Guest
Oh look, the professional offense takers are out again.
ben
Guest
Why? Im asking if eales is gay. Whats the issue?
Wii
Guest
All 5 comments here it only highlight exactly why Eales and the IRB have gone out of their way to endorse this tournament. You guys above are prime examples of the homophobia and intolerance that exits. Grow up lads
Marty
Guest
Maybe this is the player group where the Wallabies will select their next tight 5 from.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Eales the aru puppet. He has lost all cred. Unfortunately he is now a stooge a shame as he is a rugby legend
Chris
Guest
Speaking of which, here is a joke Eales made at a function a few years back; After being picked up from school his son asked Eales what "gay" meant. "Why," Eales asked, "have your friends being saying you are gay?" "No Dad" his son replied "they have been saying you are gay."
Storm Boy
Guest
leaguephobia is still on though isn't it?
ben
Guest
Is eales gay? All good with it....but is he?