Peter V’landys has revealed he is open to following in the path of other sports and introducing an inclusion round for the NRL in future seasons.
The fallout of Manly’s inclusion jersey continued on Tuesday, with the Sea Eagles facing the prospect of several players boycotting their match against the Sydney Roosters.
The players are believed to have cultural and religious concerns about donning the rainbow jersey design and were also concerned by a lack of consultation from the club before it was rolled out.
Manly’s LGBTQI jersey is the first of its kind in the NRL, with V’landys admitting surprise that the Sea Eagles had chosen to use the design for this week’s Women in League round.
But with no other club’s adopting such colours, the ARL Commission chairman is open to a more unified approach next year.
Asked if he would be open to the addition of an Inclusion round to go along with the Women in League and Indigenous rounds, V’landys was clear.
“Absolutely. We are the greatest game for all, not just for a select few. For all,” V’landys said at the Women in League launch.
“If we recognise those people absolutely, I have no problem for that.”
The AFLW held a Pride Round earlier this year, prompting GWS player Haneen Zreika to sit out a game rather than wear a specially-designed jersey.
The Sydney Swans AFL team launched a Pride guernsey last season which they wore again earlier this year.
Adelaide United hosted a Pride game in the A-League last summer, while the English Premier League supports the rainbow laces campaign.
But as yet, there is no such initiative from the NRL with Manly the first team in the game’s 114-year history to wear such a design.
“We are very proud that we are a game for everybody,” V’landys said.
“That’s why I am in this game, because I had a difficulty in being accepted as a migrant, and rugby league accepted me.
“It was inclusive back then and it is inclusive now. It is important that every man and woman can go to a game and they feel as included as everyone else.”
Any such round would likely need significant consultation with players, while also posing the risk of withdrawals such as those at Manly.
But V’landys said that would not faze him, and he would not judge players for standing down.
“Every player who plays the game is aware of our policy. If they want to take that stance so be it,” he said.
“But we’re not ever going to take a backward stance in our inclusive policy.
“We’re all humans. We’re all equal and the same. That community should be treated like the rest of us. They are no different.
“And for anyone who wants to make them different, I feel sorry for them. Because we are all the same. Respect each other, we are a human race.
“Rugby league will always stand up for that.”
