Kurtley Beale hopes a special jersey will provide the inspiration that will boost the disappointingly small number of indigenous Wallabies.
Australia will wear an indigenous jersey for the first time in their final Bledisloe Cup Test of the year, against New Zealand in Brisbane, on October 21.
Describing himself as a very proud indigenous man, an emotional Beale said it would be an unbelievable feeling to wear the jersey if selected for the match.
“The ARU have helped us take that next step forward so we can start to be recognised and hopefully at the end of the day it’s a step towards reconciliation,” Beale said.
With 60 Test appearances, Beale is the most capped of the 14 indigenous players to have represented the Wallabies.
That number pales in comparison to the plethora of indigenous stars in some of Australia’s other football codes.
“Obviously it’s pretty disappointing,” Beale said.
“I love sport in Australia and to be able to see a lot of indigenous players in the AFL and league, you kind of wonder what’s going on.
“But I think where we can really get involved is at the grassroots level.
“This is a great step forward because there’s going to be a lot of young indigenous kids out there, to be able to see this jersey being displayed at Bledisloe game three.
“Hopefully now that can influence them to play our game.
“It’s a great game and if we can start from the grassroots I think we’ll be in good stead for an opportunity for them to come and play our game.”
Australian sevens representative and Wallaroos World Cup squad member Mahalia Murphy views taking the game to new areas as key to getting more indigenous players involved in the code.
“I think that if we just continue introducing our sport into areas and other communities then I think that’s where we can get the participation numbers up,” Murphy said.
Beale revealed he had some indigenous rugby idols of his own when he was growing up.
“I’ve looked up to the Ella brothers and I think one special one that I relate to is Andrew Walker, who was pretty deadly when he played the game,” Beale said.
Jock M
Guest
I care for encouragement of all and not a race based approach. That only serves to divide people. If you go back through my blogs you find that I have predicted Rugby's demise for quite sometime Catchpole so it may pay to listen to other views. Rugby has lost its way..
Ken Catchpole's Other. Leg
Guest
Jock, no one is talking about a quota system. Couldn't you build a straw man around another issue and knock it down? We get you don't care for indigenous encouragement. Stay in your small world view and please be quiet. The grown ups are discussing an important issue.
Bakkies
Guest
Jock M finally you ask a good question. The Aus Cricket team had selected Aborigines to go on tour but that was well before Australia implemented Aus Citizenship in the late 40s and the White Australia Policy.
piru
Roar Rookie
100% - imagine how the Aussie game might look if it had had a good dose of homegrown Aboriginal athletes through the years.
John R
Roar Guru
No arguments here. And from a performance perspective, just missing out on so many potential elite athletes!
piru
Roar Rookie
It's more than baffling it's disgraceful
piru
Roar Rookie
Fair is a very relative concept when you want to compare white kids from private schools in Sydney with disadvantaged indigenous kids. Until all the kids get the same support and chances, talk of 'fairness' is just silly
piru
Roar Rookie
What are the odds! He was a very proud man on Saturday and rightfully so, both he and his boy were a bit teary.
piru
Roar Rookie
Sorry that read nastier than I intended my apologies
Jock M
Guest
PerthStayer, Having a racist program won't achieve much and Rugby's issues run much deeper anyway.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Jock The theme of your comments seems to be along the lines of special treatment, and the lack of justification for it. I imagine/hope you might see the advantages of more indigenous folk playing union. If that is the case then if there is to be no proactive approach then is it your opinion that the status quo should continue? BTW If you don't hope for more indigenous players then it's probably best that is stated and I can move on with my life. But I am fairly sure this isn't the case.
John R
Roar Guru
It's quite a baffling statistic isn't it? I really don't have the answers as to why that is. But I hope that turns around. As the article says, there's plenty of players in the AFL and NRL. Just not so many in rugby.
Jock M
Guest
One other question - has there ever been a ban on any ethnicity playing for the Wallabies?
Jock M
Guest
Ken Catchpole's other leg. Okay- well should we consider having quotas for every ethnic group? We need to be seen to be fair on this. Or could we divide the Wallabies up on skin colour?
Londoner
Guest
As a englishman I am amazed to hear only 14 indigenous players have pulled on the Oz jersey... Surely this can't go on, if Oz want to be winners at the elite level on a more regular basis. Why isnt there an indigenous team like the Maori have? This probably says alot of bad things about eliteism in Oz RU.....
Riddler
Guest
If my ordinary memory serves me right Tokyo, Lloyd was the last person to displace noddy from the 10 jersey.. Was a test at Ballymore in the late 80's.. i was at the game with some school mates, whose old fellas had season tickets.. Lynagh was dropped for the only or one of a couple times in his career.. But he was reinstated the following test..
Ken Catchpole's Other. Leg
Guest
Jock, it seems that you and I have a different understanding of 'need'. Your words btw are revealing an 'identity' also. Have you noticed that NZ and SA have strong indigenous culture that flows into a strong rugby culture? Have you noticed that indigenous participation in AFL and NRL boosts player and talent options massively in those codes?
Ken Catchpole's Other. Leg
Guest
How about this piru- I was unaware of Hodgson's heritage too. But how about this - watching the telecast last weekend, the camera flicked over to his Dad. Reference was made to his name, Max. I knew his face. I looked him up on Facebook. Yes. Matt's Dad is married to the sister of a girl I went out with as a teenager. Wouldn't have seen the guy for 40+ years. But his face was so familiar. He was a few years ahead of me at a school near mine, before I ever played grade, and developed this rugby obsession. Well done Matt. Well done Max.
Ken Catchpole's Other. Leg
Guest
Agree with all points piru. I have often thought that Matt Hodgson is the type of player the Wallabies could have built a culture around.
Ken Catchpole's Other. Leg
Guest
No need to respond that way Piru. It was a fair question. FWIW it seems that you and I are on the same side of this issue.