Rising footy star Joshua Taylor-Myles has chosen to cover up his offensive thigh tattoos after being warned he could be banned from the sport.
The 23-year-old hooker, who plays for the Aquinas Colts in Sydney‘s southwest, posted a photo from inside a tattoo parlour to his Instagram on Saturday.
In the photo, two artists are seen inking elaborate illustrations over the ‘eat s**t fa***t’ tattoo on his right thigh and the ‘snort lines and f***’ tattoo on his left.
It comes less than two weeks after Taylor-Myles was given an ultimatum: either cover up the offensive ink or risk being banned from any NSWRL competition.
A NSWRL spokesperson previously told Daily Mail Australia the father-of-one had been given an official warning and asked to cover up the tattoos.
‘The NSWRL and Cronulla JRL are committed to providing a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all people, including those of diverse sexualities and genders. Being an inclusive sport not only reflects our core values, it also reflects the diversity of our local communities,’ the spokesperson said.
‘We have a zero-tolerance to any form of bullying, harassment or vilification towards people with diverse sexualities and genders.’
The tattoos sparked uproar after Taylor-Myles was selected to play in the NSWRL Luke Lewis Cup and an image of the ink went viral on social media.
Taylor-Myles shared photos from the process of getting the tattoos covered on Saturday
Joshua Taylor-Myles (pictured) was told to cover up the ink or risk being booted from the sport
It’s understood Cronulla officials were only made aware of the highly offensive tattoos when a photo of them circulated on social media.
At least two images of Taylor-Myles’ legs were wiped from the club’s social media pages as commentators blasted the tattoos as ‘disgusting’ and social media users called for the athlete to laser them off.
Long-standing club members have questioned how the scandal has been handled.
‘He should get the boot from the club if he refuses to cover those tattoos,’ one former club member told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I get it, we all make mistakes, but there is hardly a reasonable excuse as to why you would ever get such offensive words inked to your body.
‘He wouldn’t be playing if I was still at the club.’
News Corp commentator Buzz Rothfield said the tattoos were ‘just vile’.
A NSWRL spokesperson previously told Daily Mail Australia the father-of-one (pictured) had been given an official warning and asked to cover up the tattoos
‘They are so offensive. It is so homophobic. They didn’t realise. They didn’t check the leg tattoos of every player they pick in rep sides but when a photo was put up on social media of the player, they recognised it and sent it to the New South Wales Rugby League and good on Dave Trodden,’ he said.
Rothfield said Mr Trodden, the NSWRL CEO, had ‘jumped on it straight away’.
‘He said we have zero tolerance for any form of bullying, harassment or vilification towards people with diverse sexualities and genders,’ he continued.
‘They’ve said to this bloke, “Cover them up with tape or you will not play in a New South Wales Rugby League sanctioned competition ever again”. I applaud them for coming down so hard on his rubbish.
‘He plays in a club where there are a lot of young women and men who participate for the enjoyment, for the camaraderie and it’s just so out of order.’