Three big names in the Australian rugby league world threatened to snub a call-up to the Kangaroos tour of England in 1994, after they heard rumours that footy great Ian Roberts was gay, according to one of the sport’s former administrators.
In a new documentary reflecting on the life of the NRL’s first openly gay star, Roberts, a shocking interview with former Australian Rugby League chief executive John Quayle revealed that multiple players told him that they did not want to ‘share a room’ with the former Manly player.
The documentary, which is entitled Light – The Ian Roberts Story, is scheduled to be released in cinemas next winter during the 2026 State of Origin series.
Directed by Heath Davis, the film will provide an account of the difficulties that Roberts faced in his life, how he hid aspects of himself from those around him and his journey to coming out as the first openly gay rugby league player in 1995.
Roberts enjoyed a glittering career in rugby league, notably becoming the NRL’s highest-paid player in 1990 after joining Manly from South Sydney.
The London-born prop, who made nine State of Origin appearances for the New South Wales Blues, would debut for the Kangaroos in 1990, but would be selected for the side’s tour of England in 1994.
A documentary about the life of rugby league’s first openly-gay player Ian Roberts, is set to be released next year
However, a former NRL player, coach and administrator has revealed that back in 1994, several Australian senior players learned that Roberts (pictured top) was gay and threatened to boycott the Kangaroos tour to Europe
Quayle, speaking to producers on camera, revealed he was left stunned by the reaction of Roberts’ addition to the squad for that tour.
‘I was quite shocked a little while later when Ian was selected for Australia to go on a Kangaroo tour, the representatives – three at the time, players – came into the office of the ARL to indicate that if Ian Roberts was selected in the team, they wouldn’t want to go,’ Quayle said.
‘Which was quite a shock to someone like me. I’d never heard of anything like that because the ultimate prize for a player was the Australian jumper.’
Quayle was unable to reveal the names of the three players who had made the comments, but revealed that he had asked why they reacted in the way they did.
‘Well, they’d heard the rumours that Ian was gay…’ Quayle said. ‘I remember one in particular used strong language and those languages back then was: “He’s a p***… we don’t want to room in that situation”.’
However, he did go on to reveal that the players were senior members of the squad.
Quayle insisted that selectors never had any thought of omitting Roberts from the side to keep the other three players in the squad.
Former Manly player and coach Ken Arthurson had been working as the chairman of the Australian Rugby League at the time.
Australian Rugby League chief executive John Quayle (pictured) revealed that multiple players told him that they did not want to ‘share a room’ with the former Manly player
And Quayle revealed that he had gone to Arthurson to inform him of the situation.
‘I went to Ken and said: “Look, we’ve got a couple of players here that, if selected, don’t want to tour with Ian Roberts”,’ he explained.
‘Well, Ken Arthurson was absolutely shocked because he was a long-term administrator, he’d never heard – like any of us – something like this.
‘So Ken’s comment to me, which I remember so clearly, was: “Well, that’s good mate, just tell them they won’t be selected. That’s an easy decision.” And that was it.’
Roberts would go on to make nine appearances on the tour, while appearing in four Tests, with the tourists going on to win the Test series against Great Britain.
Roberts opened up on the tour itself, stating to The Sydney Morning Herald: ‘We all became good friends.’
But he revealed that he had been unable to watch Quayle’s interview because it was too provocative.
‘I hadn’t got all the way through it… I can’t watch it,’ the former Australian star said.
Roberts came out as gay in 1995, before leaving the Manly Sea Eagles to join up with the North Queensland Cowboys in 1997
After coming out in 1995, Roberts would leave the Sea Eagles and join up with the North Queensland Cowboys in 1997, having spent a year on the sidelines due to injuries and contractual issues resulting from the Super League War.
He’d hang up the boots in 1998 due to injuries, but would later pursue a career in acting, most recently appearing in the Hollywood blockbuster, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Roberts would become a member of the Australian Labor Party, standing twice to become a candidate for the Council of the City of Sydney.
However, speaking on how the game has evolved over the years, Roberts admitted that rugby league in Australia could have done more to promote inclusivity since he retired from the game.
It came after seven Sea Eagles players had refused to play in a match in 2022, after they objected to wearing dedicated pride jerseys that featured a rainbow pattern.
Being a former Manly great, Roberts said: ‘That was so sad for me. And it was my old club.
‘I was like: “Guys, you have to understand the consequences of what you’re doing, the way they play out. You’ll never know about it, but it can be catastrophic”.’
He added: ‘Rugby league had an opportunity 30 years ago to be a world leader in and around this space.
‘We could have really stepped up to the plate when I came out.’
Roberts believes that rugby league has to do more to improve attitudes, stating: ‘Rugby league had an opportunity 30 years ago to be a world leader in and around this space.
The NRL has taken greater steps in recent years in terms of promoting inclusivity, with the NRL providing training and education on the subject as it bids to ensure everyone can participate in the sport.
The film’s director, Heath Davis, explained to The Sydney Morning Herald that viewers will be shocked by the documentary.
‘They have no idea, truly,’ Davis said. ‘I thought I had a pretty good grasp of it, but I was just scraping the surface. And even today, we continue to find more WTF discoveries.
‘He’s still living the narrative each day. Plot lines just thicken. This story is much bigger than Ian. It’s really an allegory, and he represents so many people in telling it.’
Supporters can donate to the film’s production here.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .