News Simulation

 

News Simulation

I had the role of sports editor within this process. As a team we managed to produce this front cover which we believe to reflect The Guardians new values and ideologies. My article:

Inclusive Rugby Team Challenge Rugby’s Tradition of Toxic Masculinity  

 

Traditionally rugby has been viewed by some as elitist whilst players are stereotyped as ‘blokes’ acting brash and bigoted, all in the name of ‘banter’. 

Harsh, heavy-handed sports have been a long-lasting fuel of the current toxicity which lies within men- young and old- in contemporary society. Suicide rates within young men have skyrocketed, within the last decade and the hand of the toxicity must be of blame: A forty percent higher rate within homosexual and LGBTQ+ men epitomise how men that do not fit within the rough rugby stereotype have found themselves to be unworthy. 

However, change is on the horizon: a new ‘snowflake’ generation has subverted the norms in the name of inclusivity. The London Stags RFC are South-London's biggest LGBTQ+ rugby club which pride themselves, who say they “don’t align themselves with rugby’s toxic masculinity. We do a quite a few bravado things but it’s not at the expense of others and not prejudice towards sexuality.". The captain, Leo Brookes carries on to say “More often than not our members have initially avoided playing rugby because it is a bit macho and can be intimidating, and it is not a sport that allows people to develop their sexuality through their youth.”. 

The London Stag’s RFC are adjoined to a wider community of an all-encompassing, rugby loving circle of the International Gay Rugby (IGR), which is all established in promoting inclusion and respect- something that has been deprived on the pitch as well as in the vast body of rugby. It includes over thirty-thousand members worldwide and holds over sixty tournaments internationally.  

Many traditional rugby families have criticised this “pathetic act” believing it to be against what rugby stands for at its core. Christopher Biggins head of Norwich RFC preaches how “these organisations have single-handedly gone against what rugby stands for. Rugby is an all-accepting sport, happy to welcome anyone.”. The head of IGR believes whilst this may seem true replies in fury on twitter how “men from across the globe have consistently been discriminated against and made to feel unworthy of co-existing in an ‘all-loving’ rugby community.”.