BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Three Sheffield Hawks club volunteers have been suspended from all rugby league activity for six to 12 months following an RFL investigation into alleged discriminatory comments about the Wakefield Trinity outside back Corey Hall.
The comments were shared on the club’s WhatsApp group about Hall, a former Hawks junior, in October last year.
The three men, members of the Sheffield community club, denied making racist comments in response to a photograph of the Wakefield player that had been posted on the group chat.
However, an RFL Operational Rules Tribunal has ruled that the comments and reactions posted were “clearly directed towards and mocking the colour of Corey Hall’s skin”.
Two of the men are suspended for 12 months; the third for six.
All three must undertake and pay for an RFL-approved inclusion and diversity course if they want to volunteer in the sport again.
Tribunal chair, Her Honour Judge Sarah Wright, concluded that “each of the three men used unacceptable language based on colour and/or ethnicity” and that despite protestations their comments were “unacceptable and racist”.
RFL Inclusion Lead Ben Abberstein said in a statement: “We thank Sheffield Hawks for their cooperation and we welcome the tribunal’s decision.
“It demonstrates that the process works and sends out the message that there is no place for racism in Rugby League.”
Hall was born and raised in Sheffield, and came through the Leeds Rhinos academy. The 20-year-old debuted in Super League for Leeds in 2020, before joining Trinity in 2022.
Formerly known as Hillsborough Hawks, the Sheffield Hawks were founded in 1989 and run junior and senior teams.
