A Cronulla Sharks junior will not play in a New South Wales Rugby League sanctioned competition again unless he covers up a pair of abhorrent and homophobic tattoos that have emerged on social media.
The young player has received an official warning from his club.
He was seen in a NSWRL social media post with tattoos that read “eat s*** f****t” and “snort lines and f***”.
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Veteran NRL reporter Phil Rothfield told Sky Sports Radio the club was unaware of the tattoos until the social media photo circulated.
“Just vile,” Rothfield said on Sunday morning.
“They are so offensive. It is so homophobic.
“They (the Sharks) didn’t realise. They didn’t check the leg tattoos of every player they pick in rep sides but when a photo was put up on social media of the player, they recognised it and sent it to the New South Wales Rugby League and good on (NSWRL chief executive) Dave Trodden.
“He jumped on it straight away. He said, ‘We have zero tolerance for any form of bullying, harassment or vilification towards people with diverse sexualities and genders’.”
The player is not being named.
“They’ve said to this bloke, ‘Cover them up with tape or you will not play in a New South Wales Rugby League sanctioned competition ever again’,” Rothfield said.
“I applaud them for coming down so hard on his rubbish.
“He plays in a club where there are a lot of young women and men who participate for the enjoyment, for the camaraderie and it’s just so out of order.”