Australian rugby star complains over homophobic slurs during match
Rugby union player David Pocock has made a complaint about other players using homophobic slurs during a match.
The Brumbies player made the about the team’s game against the New South Wales Waratahs yesterday – which the Waratahs eventually won 28-13.
However, Pocock – who is a strong supporter of marriage equality – twice complained to the referee about homophobic remarks allegedly used by the opposing team – despite Australia Rugby Union committing to a ‘zero tolerance’ approach last year.
He said: “As players, we’ve said the Brumbies aren’t going to tolerate any homophobic slurs, I just made that clear to the referee that it’s unacceptable.
“You can be the toughest man in the world, but it’s got nothing to do with using that sort of language.
“I certainly haven’t heard much in the last few years.
“I guess in the last year or two Australian rugby has started to address, and rightly so from Bill Pulver right down, that there’s no room for homophobic language in our sport and we want to make it inclusive.
“Our job as players is to quell it out. That’s what we did, I don’t think it should be a witch hunt. It’s about educating the players and ensuring that rugby does become more inclusive.”
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said: “Obviously it’s going to come out in the next couple of days.
“We haven’t had a chance to chat to everyone about everything that happened out there but we will investigate it further.”
