Rugby Australia has pioneered the fight against online trolling by becoming the first national sporting organisation in Australia to offer a social media protection service to all its members. In partnership with Social Protect, an AI-driven mobile application, Rugby Australia aims to shield its community—from elite athletes to grassroots participants—from harmful social media comments in real time. This initiative is a response to the persistent issues of cyberbullying, which include personal attacks, hate speech, and racist comments frequently directed at players, referees, and coaches.
The newly implemented service will help manage distressing remarks that might appear on social media posts or profiles, ensuring a safer online presence for all involved in rugby. Previous trials conducted on Rugby Australia’s national team’s social media platforms have demonstrated the efficacy of this system, managing to quarantine over 1,500 inappropriate comments in just two months.
Despite some sporting codes stepping up their efforts to combat online harassment, moderation and management of abusive social media interactions have largely been relegated to individual athletes, often leaving them to fend for themselves against the barrage of negativity. The introduction of this protective measure aligns with a growing movement among public figures advocating against hate speech and online misconduct.
In a notable instance from April 2024, a rugby fan faced legal consequences for sending abusive messages to a match official during a major tournament, highlighting sports’ increasing awareness of, and response to, online misconduct. Rugby Australia’s CEO, Phil Waugh, expressed that this partnership with Social Protect sets a new benchmark for how sports can tackle online abuse. He articulated a commitment to fostering a safe and respectful environment for everyone connected to rugby, sending a strong message that harassment, in any form, will not be tolerated.
Social Protect’s founder, Shane Britten, remarked that this initiative signals an important shift in prioritising safety for sports participants beyond just physical interactions. The application allows users to maintain control over their social media accounts while automatically deleting harmful comments, which are documented for monitoring and enforcement by Rugby Australia.
In summary, Rugby Australia’s innovative approach to combat online abuse not only exemplifies a proactive stance by a national sports body but also serves as a model for other sporting codes, emphasising that respect and safety should transcend the field.