The head of New Zealand Rugby has said the sport is ready for a gay player to come out. Chief executive of New Zealand Rugby, Steve Tew, said at an event to promote diversity and combat homophobia and racism in sport, that New Zealand is yet to see an out rugby player. Tew stated:
“No one has yet said they’re an All Black and gay, one day that will happen and I would hope that New Zealand is more than ready, in fact is welcoming of it”.
He added:
“Our job is to nurture a team culture and environment where everybody can come in and be the best possible athlete and person they can be."
The event was a cross-sports meeting which included New Zealand Rugby, New Zealand Football, New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand Rugby League.
A 2015 study, Out in the Fields, found 88 per cent of gay NZ sportsmen and 76 per cent of gay sportswomen hid their sexuality from their teammates.
To combat homophobia New Zealand Rugby will establish a programme of agreed areas of focus by the end of 2016.
Author Rachel Cook
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