Move to wear historic pride jersey by NRL's Manly results in player boycott

The move by the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles to wear a pride jersey in their NRL fixture against the Sydney Roosters tonight has seen at least seven players announce that they will not play in the key match.

In a development that has dominated news headlines in NSW and divided rugby league stakeholders, Manly will become the first team in the competition ever to wear a kit which promotes LGBT inclusivity in the sport.

However, in the wake of the club announcing its move on Monday, the players said they wouldn't wear the jersey claiming that object to the move on religious and cultural grounds and that they hadn't been consulted.

On Tuesday, the club apologised for its handling of the situation.

Coach Des Hasler said the club had made a "significant mistake" that had caused "confusion, discomfort and pain for many people, in particular those groups whose human rights we were in fact attempting to support".

In a press conference Hasler apologised to both the LGBT community and to the players involved.

Hasler advised "they were not included in any of the discussions, and at a minimum, they should have been consulted."

Under NRL rules, players from the same team cannot wear different jerseys.

Sydney media identified the seven players as Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolu Koula and Toafofoa Sipley.

Tonight's game during the Women in League round is considered important to the club's chances of making the NRL finals and the players' stance has sparked widespread reaction with some supporting the players’ stance while others have accused the seven of hypocrisy, pointing out the team is sponsored by a brewery and betting agency.

Hasler said he respected the men's decisions and is concerned for their welfare amid the backlash.

Former Manly star Ian Roberts - the first-ever former NRL player to come out as gay - says the boycott "breaks his heart".

Roberts told Sydney's The Daily Telegraph "it's sad and uncomfortable", before, in a column for the Sydney Morning Herald imploring the seven players to reconsider their position.

Roberts wrote “can you not understand the pain visited upon gay people who, no matter what they do, are disrespected simply for being gay?"

Australain Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Manly for its stance, saying: "it's important in Australian society that we respect everyone for who they are."

The jersey, featuring three rainbow stripes and trim, will be worn as a one-off for tonight's game.

Last year AFL Women's player Haneen Zreika missed a game after declining to don the jersey on religious grounds.

Image: Manly players Sean Keppie, Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick model the pride jersey.