Manly pride jersey: Sea Eagles to be first NRL club to wear LGBTIQA kit

Manly will become the first club in rugby league’s 114-year history to wear a pride jersey. See the playing strip here.

Manly's Sean Keppie, Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick in the Sea Eagle's Pride jersey. Picture: Manly Digital

Manly will become the first club in rugby league history to wear a pride jersey – titled Everyone in League – to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in the NRL.

Rainbow colours will replace the traditional white piping on Manly’s jumper for Thursday night’s big game against Sydney Roosters at 4 Pines Park.

Boy, hasn’t rugby league come a long way.

Could you imagine this happening at Brookie in the 1970s?

As legendary songwriter Bob Dylan prophetically wrote, The Times They are A-Changin’.

“LGBTIQA people have always been a part of sport but haven’t always been allowed the visibility,” said former Manly forward Ian Roberts, who in 1995 became the first rugby league player to come out as openly gay.

“Honestly, I have been trying to get the NRL to have a pride round for the past three years and it still hasn’t got the traction it deserves.

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Manly's Sean Keppie, Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick in the Sea Eagle's Pride jersey. Picture: Manly Digital

“It saddens me because they think having a float at the Mardi Gras is enough and it’s not.”

Roberts tells the story about being king hit by two thugs as he ­admired the Sydney Harbour Bridge at Circular Quay many years ago.

There was also the time at Kogarah when he was punched in the face by a fan and called a “faggot” when leaving the field at halftime.

Years of gut-wrenching vitriol just for being gay.

“So it’s wonderful that the sporting community is finally embracing all parts of the community,” Roberts said.

“And that’s what this is, total acceptance and inclusion. I am so proud of Manly for doing this.

Manly legend Ian Roberts.

To further celebrate the jersey, Roberts hopes to attend Thursday night’s game. And one player who will run out for the vital match is Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran.

“We are very proud to wear this jersey that delivers such an important message in society today,” Foran said. “The great game of rugby league is for everyone, irrespective of who you are or where you have come from.”

The AFL has a pride round but no NRL club has ventured into such historic territory – until now. Manly’s initiative is part of the annual NRL Women in League round. The rainbow jumper has been designed in collaboration with the club’s apparel partner, Dynasty Sport.

Founder and director of Dynasty Sport, Tyler Rakich, said: “Sport is one of those great things where people come together from all walks of life and participate in something without ­exclusion. This jersey is a celebration of that and the first of its kind in the NRL.

“The Everyone in League jersey is something we’ve wanted to do for a number of years. As soon as we got the concept locked in, all parties have contributed to make it what it is and it’s something we’re all really proud of.

“The design itself maintains the iconic Manly DNA with the striped design and maroon but with the subtle inclusion of the rainbow colours, which are a nod to inclusivity for Everyone in League.”

Interim Sea Eagles CEO Gary Wolman said his club was proud to “share such an important message that means so much to so many people in the community”.

“The Sea Eagles have such a rich and diverse history in rugby league and in the community,” he said. “To be able to bring this concept to life with Dynasty Sport is a fantastic achievement.”