Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Wallabies to mark NAIDOC week by singing national anthem in Yugambeh language and wearing First Nations jersey

Wallabies to mark NAIDOC week by singing national anthem in Yugambeh language and wearing First Nations jersey
July 4, 2022

The Wallabies will recognise NAIDOC week by wearing the First Nations jersey and singing the national anthem in Yugambeh language when they play England at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

It will be the first time the side has worn the 2022 iteration of the First Nations jersey, which is predominantly gold in colour with Kamilaroi and Gamilaraay man Dennis Golding’s design proudly across the strip.

The side, who won the opening encounter with England in Perth on Saturday, will also sing the Australian national anthem in the Yugambeh language, alongside the Yugambeh Youth Choir before kick-off.

By singing the anthem in Yugambeh language, the side will be paying homage to Uncle Lloyd McDermott, the first Wallaby to identify as a First Nations man.

McDermott, who was also Australia’s first Indigenous barrister, famously boycotted the Wallabies’ 1963 tour to South Africa during the apartheid era, rather than play as an ‘honorary white’ player.

Off the field, he formed the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team (LMRDT) with a goal of introducing rugby union to more young First Nations people across Australia.

Members of the current squad will spend time at Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre today, with Chair of Rugby Australia's First Nations Committee Sonja Stewart to address the group during the week.

The Wallabies became the first national side to sing the anthem in First Nations language in 2020, when Olivia Fox sang in Eora language at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.

They were also the first national team to wear a First Nations jersey, when they ran out at Suncorp Stadium in Dennis Golding’s design in 2017.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, stated “as a team, we’re extremely proud to be able to celebrate NAIDOC week by wearing our First Nations jersey and singing in Uncle’s language on Saturday night in Brisbane.

“We put a lot of time into understanding who we play for and who we represent and the privilege to play for Australia isn’t lost on us.”

Image: Wallaby Pete Samu poses in a First Nations jersey. The team will wear the jerseys in the second of three Tests against England and sing the Australian anthem. Credit: Chris Hyde/Getty Images for Rugby Australia.

Related Articles

3rd July 2022 - Ash Barty named Person of the Year at NAIDOC Awards

25th June 2022 - Charles Darwin University sends team to Indigenous Nationals for first time

17th June 2022 - Rugby Australia looks to quit Super Rugby Pacific competition

9th June 2022 - Wallabies to host first international event at Sydney’s new Allianz Stadium

27th May 2022 - AIS expands Share a Yarn program to include First Nations athletes as mentors

13th May 2022 - Australia secures Rugby World Cup 2027 and 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup

10th May 2022 - Basketball Australia announces Indigenous lead appointment

4th May 2022 - Strong sponsorship growth could see Rugby Australia secure profit for 2022

3rd May 2022 - Australian Sports Museum celebrates indigenous history of Melbourne Football Club

24th March 2022 - New National Indigenous Sports Foundation looks to improve participation opportunities

7th March 2022 - Rugby Australia welcomes funding from Sport Australia’s Participation Grant Program

25th November 2021 - Australia announced as ‘preferred candidate’ to host Rugby World Cup 2027

23rd November 2021 - Rugby Australia outsources community development programs to DMC Sport

22nd November 2021 - 2021 Indigenous Football Week spotlights gender equality from grassroots to elite

19th September 2021 - Senior Rugby Australia executive arrested over possession of child sexual abuse material

28th June 2021 - Rugby Australia welcomes PacificAus Sports funding to support Fiji Rugby Union

29th January 2021 - Vote sees Rugby Australia revert to 1991 colours for Wallabies jersey

23rd October 2020 - Rugby Australia release statement supporting the Wallabies First Nations jersey

22nd April 2020 - Former Wallabies Captains call for immediate leadership change at Rugby Australia


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

SeatGeek Asia Pacific

SeatGeek is a search engine and mobile-focused ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell tickets for live events. As of August 2018, SeatGeek has exited the Australian, New…

read more

Entertainment / Sport / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

CENTAMAN

Centaman has been a market leader in Enterprise Software Solutions for the leisure and recreation industry and both profit and not-for-profit attractions since 1991. It offers a wide range of software…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology / Ticketing

 
 

HRMWEB

At easyemployer we've come up with a software solution that manages one of your most important, and often most costly, business resources - your staff. We are helping 100s of clients to…

read more

Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

Exerp

Exerp is a global IT specialist in member management software for the fitness and leisure industry. By focusing on the needs of large enterprises, where streamlining, control and scalability are…

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Jonas Leisure

Jonas Software operates over 110 independently managed software brands around the world, providing them with the strategic guidance and financial security required to be leaders in their respective…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Fitness / Recreation / Sport

 
 

Augmented Creative

Augmented Creative is an open organization of like-minded and highly dedicated, creative people who conceive, plan and execute visual solutions. We pursue new and innovative visual ideas to help…

read more

Arts / Attractions / Consultants / Design / Tourism

 
 

@leisure Planners

@leisure is a team of experienced leisure, aquatic and sports facility managers and planners, with market modelling, sports management, recreation planning, business and GIS qualifications. We have…

read more

Consultants

 
 

BODY BIKE APAC

BODY BIKE® International is a leading manufacturer of indoor bikes with a 20-year track record of creating the best indoor bikes. Stay connected with Body Bike Australia…

read more

Fitness / Recreation / Sport / Technology / Wellness

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business