Headline
Sponsor
JOIN THE FLIGHT

Dragons support Rainbow Laces campaign

Dragons will join forces with community teams across Wales, the other three regions and the national men's and women's teams this weekend to support Stonewall Cymru's Rainbow Laces campaign.

Ben Mottram | 23/11/2018

Welsh rugby as a whole will be backing the charity with teams endorsing its key messages of inclusion and support. 

During the 2017 Under Armour Series Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones made a public show of that support, wearing rainbow laces during Wales' clash with New Zealand at Principality Stadium in the 2017 Under Armour Series.

And it has been confirmed that Welsh rugby will again rally behind the LGBT community cause in a variety of ways over the next fortnight.

"We are delighted that Welsh rugby is once again proudly endorsing Stonewall Cymru's Rainbow Laces initiative throughout its two week 2018 awareness campaign, whilst continuing to permanently support its values on a year round basis," said a WRU spokesperson.

"Many of our national game's core values of respect, teamwork and sportsmanship resonate with what is at the heart of this important campaign and we remain committed to ensuring that rugby provides an inclusive and welcoming environment for all at every level of the game.

"Each of the four regional teams in Welsh rugby are backing the campaign and laces have been purchased and distributed around the community game in Wales leading up to 'Wear Your Rainbow Laces Day' on Wednesday 28th November, with all WRU staff on the ground encouraged to take an active role in support.

"Our referees department will also be specifically supporting the campaign with all Premiership referees due to be wearing the laces in all Premiership fixtures over the weekend of the 1st December 2018.

"Wales' national teams, women's and men's, who are in action this weekend, have also been given access to laces and will be issuing their own personal messages of support in the coming days.

"#RainbowLacesDay and #WYRLD2018 will also feature prominently on WRU social channels as we seek to wholeheartedly endorse key messages of inclusion and support, as an active ally to the LGBT community, and formally condemn any comment or action to the contrary."

The Welsh Rugby Union sits on the LGBT Sports Cymru Network, established in 2013 following research produced by Sport Wales to better understand the sporting experiences of Wales' LGBT communities.

In June 2014 the Network in partnership with Sport Wales and Stonewall Cymru launched the Sports Charter at the Senedd with the Sports Minister. The WRU are a signatory to the Charter which asserts a zero tolerance to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

The Network is working across sports to develop role models to promote LGBT community taking part in sport. The network also acts as an advisory body for individuals and organisations who are seeking advice or signposting to clubs to encourage participation.

For more information on Stonewall Cymru click HERE

OFFICIAL SPONSORS
Would you like to be part of our success? FIND OUT MORE
Headline Sponsor
Primary Partners