Canalsiders also support laces campaign

Friday night at the AJ Bell Stadium, will see MCR Canalsiders (The first LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Rugby League Team in the world) take on a team for the Red Devils Foundation at a game of Touch RL during half time at the Salford Red Devils final match of the season against Widnes Vikings.

This will be to celebrate the Foundation being presented with the Pride Cup, for their work with the LGBT community. The Pride Cup was first presented to Sheffield Eagles in 2011 for their work with the Tackle Homophobia campaign then held by Leeds Rhinos and now Canalsiders have great please in presenting this to the Red Devils Foundation.

They have been instrumental from the inception of Canalsiders with advice, support and guidance.  Prior to the match the Army and Navy Rugby League teams will compete in their annual match against each other and will also be supporting the Stonewall campaign.  Stonewall commented that this weekend, professional football players, grassroots teams and fans up and down the country will be wearing Rainbow Laces to show their support for tackling homophobia in the game.

However, this is not just an issue in football but something more prevalent in sport generally. For this reason, we are very happy to see Rugby League clubs Salford Red Devils and Widnes Vikings getting involved in the campaign and taking on discrimination in sport from kick off.

Rugby League has a brilliant tradition of showing any form of discrimination the red card through its brilliant Respect programme and the players and clubs are proud to take part in another campaign that will allow anyone regardless of age, gender, sexuality or race that our sport is a sport for everyone.

Lace up this weekend. Go to www.stonewall.org.uk/laces to get your free pair. Show your support and join the conversation using #RainbowLaces

Published: 11-Sep-2014: (2603)