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5 months ago
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EXCLUSIVE
Footy player Joshua Taylor-Myles has been staunchly defended by a mate after his shocking thigh tattoos left rugby league fans dismayed and drove a wedge into his club.
Taylor-Myles was ordered to have the 'eat s**t fa***t' and 'snort lines and f**k' tattoos on his upper legs covered up if he wants to avoid being banned from playing for the Aquinas Colts team in Sydney's south-west.
His identity was exclusively revealed by Daily Mail Australia after pictures of the hooker playing in the NSWRL's Luke Lewis Cup on June 8 went viral, prompting the team to delete the pictures from social media - but his friend has responded by saying 'it's his body he can do what he wants'.
Joshua Taylor-Myles has been given an ultimatum after a photo (pictured) of his disgraceful thigh tattoos went viral - but now a friend has come to his defence
The 23-year-old footy player's ink has left fans and members of his club dismayed
A mate of Taylor-Myles went online to describe him as 'the kindest bloke' (pictured) and slam the media for shining a light on the scandal
At least two images of Taylor-Myles' legs were wiped from the club's social media pages as commentators blasted the tatts as 'disgusting' and social media users called for the athlete to laser them off.
Long-standing club members 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.'
Taylor-Myles (pictured right with a teammate) has been told he won't be allowed to play footy unless he covers up the shocking words
Now a commenter on Facebook who identified himself as a friend of the 23-year-old last leaped to his defence after reading Daily Mail Australia's most recent story on the scandal.
'I know this guy personally and he's just the kindest bloke who will do anything to help those close to him,' Taylor-Myles's mate wrote.
'The hate is not needed it's his body he can do what he wants and until the media made a big deal of it no one would know he had it.'
Aquinas Colts president Brett O'Farrell insisted the club was following industry guidelines and said the messages expressed on the player's legs don't reflect the views of the team.
'We're following the guidelines by NSW Rugby League and that's all that we're prepared to comment on,' he told Daily Mail Australia.
The father of one (pictured right) has refused to comment on the backlash after his tattoos were exposed
The controversial hooker for the Aquinas Colts team is pictured with his pregnant partner
'He is going to cover them up, which is what I just told you.'
Taylor-Myles was named best on ground by the club in a photo now deleted from Facebook.
The father-of-one has not responded to questions about the tattoos.
In an unearthed photo shared to social media in 2020, a former teammate once described him as 'all looks, no idea'.
On Monday morning, an NSWRL spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'Cronulla JRL [Junior Rugby League] has issued the player an official warning and asked him to cover the offending tattoos if he wishes to continue to play in any sanctioned NSWRL competition.
'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.
'We have zero tolerance to any form of bullying, harassment or vilification towards people with diverse sexualities and genders.'
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