Rugby Players Kissing – It’s A Welcome Trend!
First, it was in a French locker room, and now it has happened on Australian soil. Something seems to be in the water with the world’s rugby players, and whatever it is, it’s leading to some very friendly post-match moments. The latest example comes from the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, where a classic jersey swap took an interesting turn.
From old teammates to a post-match pash…
After the Lions secured a win against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, all eyes were on the players during the traditional formalities. Brumbies player Ben O’Donnell and the Lions’ own Mack Hansen, who previously played together for the Irish club Connacht, met on the field to exchange jerseys. The reunion between the two old mates was sealed with a kiss. Photos of the moment quickly appeared on the official social media channels for both the British and Irish Lions and Connacht Rugby, showing the two men sharing a clear moment of affection.
So what did everyone else think?
The reaction online was swift and overwhelmingly positive. Comments ranged from celebrating the “brother love” to others that were, let’s just say, a little more appreciative of the view. It’s a moment that goes beyond a simple team photo. As one commenter, Shane W, thoughtfully posted, “I just love seeing this though. I really do. These are good, decent blokes who are not afraid to show affection and comfortable with their own sexuality.” It’s a sentiment that captures the spirit of the moment perfectly, showing two men comfortable enough to share an intimate gesture in a very public space.
It all comes back to that locker room kiss.
This friendly display in Canberra comes just a week after a photo of Toulouse teammates Jack Willis and Blair Kinghorn went viral. The shirtless pair were snapped sharing a full kiss in the locker room, making news across the globe. While these recent displays are likely more playful than romantic, they occur against a backdrop of slowly but surely increasing LGBTQIA+ acceptance in professional men’s rugby.
Pioneers like former Welsh captain Gareth Thomas, who became the first openly gay international male rugby player in 2009, paved the way. He was followed by others, including England’s Sam Stanley in 2015. More recently, we’ve seen Ireland’s Nick McCarthy and New Zealand’s Campbell Johnstone come out while still deeply involved in the sport. And of course, here in Australia, former Wallabies prop Dan Palmer wrote a powerful piece in 2020 about the immense pressure of hiding his identity in the professional sports world.
So, is this a real trend?
Maybe. Whether it’s just mates being mates or a sign of a more relaxed attitude towards masculinity in one of the world’s toughest sports, one thing is clear: visibility matters. And we’re not complaining about the view.
