Rugby goes pink to stand up to bullying
Men wearing pink shirts may have prompted bullying in days gone by. Now, doing so symbolises a stand against it.
Tasman Rugby Union staff donned pink yesterday in support of Pink Shirt Day, an international movement to stop bullying and spread kindness.
TRU chief executive Tony Lewis said the organisation had worked hard over the last two years to ‘‘make the playing field a really positive place’’.
He said bullying was in ‘‘every facet of life’’, and the day was ‘‘a great opportunity for the community, rugby clubs and rugby players to stand up and say, ‘This is not good enough’.’’
Competitions and operations administrator Jo MacLean said she had been bullied in a previous, male-dominated workplace. She had also seen it during rugby games.
‘‘I saw some awful instances of parents bullying whoever was refereeing the game. And this goes on at all levels – little kids right up to seniors.’’
TRU operations manager Steve Mitchell said he was bullied through school until he started boxing.
‘‘It was more an attitude change and having that confidence to stand up.’’
Referee manager Michael Lash was a driving force behind the pink hue in the TRU offices.
Lash said he was picked on at school for being small, and other young family members were now going through the same thing. They had given up playing rugby because of it.
‘‘That cuts pretty deep with me. In the union, we have a motto: every player has a team.
‘‘We’re pretty tough on that, and want everybody to be enjoying the game that we grew up and love and had a part of.
‘‘If we can only do a small bit, hopefully it’s enough to make a bit of a difference.’’