The National Rugby League (NRL) has been excluded from this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, amid ongoing controversy surrounding a pride jersey released by the Manly Sea Eagles.
The jersey, which was released in recognition of the LGTBIQ+ community, had drawn both praise and criticism from the rugby league community due to its association with the Manly Sea Eagles.
The jersey drew further criticism when it was revealed that the NRL had excluded Manly from the official Mardi Gras parade line-up, with many claiming that it was a sign of the league not taking the issue of inclusivity and diversity seriously.
The NRL has distanced itself from the decision, stating that they had not been consulted by Mardi Gras organisers and that they still supported Manly’s inclusion in the parade.
Despite this, it appears that the NRL’s exclusion from the Mardi Gras parade is a direct result of the controversy surrounding the Manly Sea Eagles pride jersey.
The jersey, which was released as part of the NRL’s Rainbow Round initiative, has been a divisive topic in the rugby league community and its exclusion from the Mardi Gras parade is a reflection of that.
The NRL has made great strides in recent years to promote inclusivity and diversity within the sport, but this latest saga shows that there is still a long way to go.
It remains to be seen how the NRL will respond to this latest setback and how it will affect their commitment to inclusivity and diversity in the future.