Rugby Australia has unequivocally backed the 'Yes' campaign for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
On Thursday RA joined a number of the country's leading sporting organisations in supporting the proposal.
The NRL, AFL, Tennis Australia, Football Australia, and Australian Olympic Committee have all publicly endorsed the Voice.
RA didn't shy away from delivering their position.
"The proposed referendum on the Voice to Parliament is too important a contest to watch in silence," they said.
"Whatever pollies and pundits say, what it comes down to is a principle ordinary Australians already apply, every day, in every aspect of their lives; A level playing field."
In 2020, Australia's national representative men's rugby team sung Advance Australia Fair in both English and Eora language ahead of a test match against Argentina at Sydney's CommBank Stadium.
It sparked a semi-regular tradition, later performing the national anthem in Yugambeh language ahead of a test match in Brisbane during NAIDOC Week in tribute to Uncle Lloyd McDermott, the first Wallabies player to identify as a First Nations man and Australia's first Indigenous barrister.
Cecil Ramalli preceded Uncle Lloyd in pulling on the national jumper, but did not identify as Indigenous until later in life.
Uncle Lloyd boycotted the Wallabies' 1963 tour of Apartheid-era South Africa on principle.
RA referenced the abandoning of the White Australia Policy, the 1967 referendum, and segregationist policies in other parts of the world now ended.
"Half a century later, too many First Nations communities are still plagued by social and economic inequality. And too many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are still trapped in a cycle of disadvantage."
RA said while elite sport provides a "off-ramp" for some, a Voice to Parliament presents the opportunity to make a wider, historic difference.
A message from the Rugby Australia Board pic.twitter.com/JfFcASFn5C
— Rugby Australia (@RugbyAU) May 17, 2023
The statement also addressed negative assertions raised about the proposal.
"Despite what you might have read, you don't need a Constitutional Law degree to make an informed decision about the vote you cast," RA said.
"We're sure that, like us, you don't support a 'third chamber of government', or adding other complexities and costs which obstruct government acting in the best interests of all of us.
"The bottom line is that our Constitution still doesn't recognise the First Peoples of Australia or give them the voice they deserve. The playing field could still be more level.
"If we're ever going to achieve true union as a nation, we must take every opportunity we have to close the gap which still separates so many of us.Provision for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in our Constitution is long overdue. Let's get it over the line."
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney thanked RU for their stance.
"Thank you for your support RugbyAU! The Voice is a chance for us to build a better future together. I'm glad that you're walking with our people on this journey," Minister Burney replied to RU's tweet.
