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

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.