The singing of club songs in any sport has long been a part of the game and is considered by many to be an important aspect of club culture and symbolic of team spirit.
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However, the Forbes Magpies Junior Rugby League Club have been told they are no longer allowed to sing their song on the field after a game.
Instead, a directive from Country Rugby League (CRL) NSW states that if teams wish to sing their team song post match, it must be sung in the change rooms, not on the field in public.
The rule came into effect in August last year following an incident in which a senior club sang a song that contained derogatory words and/or swearing.
CRL chief executive officer Terry Quinn then sent around an email warning clubs not to sing their songs in public and said that severe penalties would be imposed on teams found in breach of this.
Forbes Magpies JRL have continued to sing their club song - which contains no bad language - up until now, however they recently received an official warning about it after someone complained during one of their matches.
President of Forbes Magpies JRL, Troy Hurford, said that they continued to sing their song because they have kids as young as five and up to the age of 16, and “there’s never been a problem”.
“They love nothing more after they’ve finished than getting in a circle and throwing their head gear up after singing their song,” he said.
“It’s about having fun.”
Mr Hurford said as a parent of three boys who play, he, along with all other parents and grandparents, would never let the kids sing a song that contained derogatory language.
He thinks it is unfair that all clubs are punished when most haven’t done anything wrong and said even though they are allowed to sing in the changerooms, the younger grades don’t use them.
“It’s just not right,” he said.
President of the Forbes Magpies Rugby League Club, Greg Grogan said it’s not fair to punish the young players for the mistakes of the seniors.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” he said.
“They’re six-year-old kids….six-year-olds do not sing abusive team songs.
“The kids love it - I think they get more enjoyment singing their songs than they do playing.
“If they (CRL) stop them doing it, they’re taking a lot of fun out of the game.”
Mr Quinn said that the CRL decided to make one rule for everyone in response to multiple complaints they’d received about bad language.
“We’re not stopping teams from singing their songs...they’re allowed to sing their team songs, but not on the field,” he said.
Mr Quinn said while not all teams have swearing in their songs, some do and he believes this is the best way to eliminate that.
“When the F-bomb or another swear word comes out, it impacts on everyone and it only takes one fool to do it,” he said.
“We’re trying to make the game pleasant for everyone to be around.
“We want it to be a family-friendly game and that’s the best way we could do it - it’s for the betterment of the game.”