Knights player Kepaoa banned for six weeks for homophobic slur

Newcastle Knights player Asu Kepaoa will miss six weeks of play after admitting to using a homophobic slur during a recent NSW Cup game. The ban was handed down by the NSWRL judiciary on Wednesday.

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The language used has no place at our club. The Knights accept the outcome and fully support the process.

Kepaoa pleaded guilty to the offense, which occurred in the Knights' reserve-grade match against the St. George Illawarra Dragons. He was sent off the field during the game and subsequently referred directly to the judiciary. Following the hearing, Kepaoa issued a personal apology, acknowledging the harm his words caused.

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The Newcastle Knights are an inclusive club and pride ourselves on being a welcoming place for all players, staff and supporters.

The Newcastle Knights released a statement emphasizing their commitment to inclusivity. "Language that causes harm to individuals or communities has no place at our club, in the NRL, or in our community," the club stated. They confirmed they would work with Kepaoa to provide education on the impact of his language and the responsibilities of representing the club.

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Language that causes harm to individuals or communities has no place in our club, in the NRL, or in our community.

This incident is not the first of its kind in Australian sport. In 2022, Marcelo Montoya of the Warriors received a four-game ban for a similar offense. Several players in the Australian Football League have also faced suspensions for homophobic slurs in recent seasons. Kepaoa's ban comes just weeks after former Sydney Roosters player Kane Evans became one of the few openly gay men to have played professional rugby league in Australia.

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The club will work closely with Kepaoa to ensure he receives appropriate education around the impact of language and the responsibilities that come with representing the Newcastle Knights and the values we stand for.