Former student designs indigenous rugby jersey

Former Brisbane Water Secondary College student Mr Dylan Barnes has had his design featured on the NSW Waratahs inaugural indigenous rugby jersey.

Mr Barnes, from Empire Bay, is a self-taught Wiradjuri artist.

His design was chosen after a recommendation to NSW Rugby by the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience.

Mr Barne's design was worn by the Waratahs during their Super Rugby clash earlier this year.

Waratah's player Kurtley Beale praised Mr Barnes' design and said the jerseys provided some welcome visibility to the indigenous communities of NSW.

"I've always had a passion to be able to push forward my culture and raise awareness at such a platform," Kurtley Beale said.

"For the Waratahs to be able to recognise and acknowledge our culture is extremely powerful and hopefully we can continue this."

He said the design had "15 of these small circles that resemble the players on the field and the lines in between, linking them all together as one to tie in with Reconciliation Week which is a big part of our history.

"It's another great opportunity to do that on the weekend, bringing together indigenous and non-indigenous players to celebrate a special week and take us in the direction we all want to go."

The jerseys have since been auctioned by the Waratahs to raise funds for the Richard Tombs Foundation. SOURCE: Newsletter, 2 Jul 2019 Rebecca Cooper, BWSC Woy Woy Website, 2 Jul 2019 Roger Davis, NSW Waratahs