As part of our celebration of the annual Pride Game this weekend, the Rainbow Swans, the official LGBTQ+ supporter group of the Sydney Swans, are delighted to announce their sponsorship of the Newtown Breakaways Football Club. The Breakaways are one of the founding women’s AFL clubs in Sydney.
The Rainbow Swans originated as an email group for LGBTQ+ Swans fans. In 2015, they were recognised by the Sydney Swans as their official supporter group for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Newtown Breakaways Football Club (NBFC) formed in 2002 as part of the Sydney Women’s AFL (SWAFL). The NBFC adopted the red and white of the Sydney Swans as their offical colours.
The Breakaways won seven premierships between 2002-2015 and were named SWAFL’s Club of the Decade in 2011. In 2020, the red and white came full circle, introducing a Breakaways men's team for the first time – a men’s team in a women’s club.
Rainbow Swans Chair Sarina Jackson said the group is proud to be working with the pioneering team.
“We are delighted to support the Breakaways through sponsorship of their forthcoming Pride Round guernseys, which will be worn for the first time in a match onSeptember 12 at Henson Park in Marrickville,” Jackson said.
“The Breakaways align with our mission, which is to eliminate discrimination and social stigma towards to the LGBTQ+ community, and promote mutual recognition, respect and reconciliation within our great Australian game.”
Ingrid McLanders, President of the Newtown Breakaways, said the alignment reinforces the club statement – Breakaways: Men & Women Playing with Pride.
“The Breakaways have been a pioneer for inclusivity, diversity, women’s independence and community engagement since its formation. We are now proud to again be breaking new ground by building a unique relationship between the Rainbow Swans, Newtown Breakaways and the Sydney Swans,” McLanders said.
“This year has been a challenging year for community AFL, but our club continues to grow. Now with the addition of men into a woman’s club, we are truly representing inclusivity. Our partnership with the Rainbow Swans is unique and demonstrates the capacity of support groups to bridge the gap between the mainstream AFL and the grass roots of community footy.”
Catch the Newtown Breakaways in their Pride Round guernseys:
Newtown Breakaways – Women’s Div 1, Men’s Div 3, Women’s 3 – Sat 12 Sept Henson Park (NSW)