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'I'm upset lots of players have to hide their sexuality for years before they retire... I want everyone to be themselves'
Denny Solomona arrived fresh off the London train from Manchester the other evening with an olive branch. It was a year ago when he copped a ban he believed thoroughly unjust. He was found guilty of using homophobic language towards Worcester fly-half Jamie Shillcock despite nothing being picked up on the referee’s microphone.
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It was one man’s word against another. However, rather than contest the reputation-damaging findings, the fear of a lengthier ban if his appeal against the four-week suspension was lost – it would have ruled him out of England’s summer tour to South Africa – meant he buttoned his lip and sucked up the punishment.
A year on from that grubby saga, Solomona, who still protests his innocence, isn’t afraid to stick this head above the parapet for a very positive reason concerning homophobia. The Israel Folau saga has dragged rugby through the mud in recent weeks, his ‘gays will go to hell’ rhetoric not to Rugby Australia’s liking.
Now what Solomona would like to see happen is for homosexuals to have the confidence to come out while they are still playing the game, not wait until they are retired as happened with Gareth Thomas, the former Wales and Lions skipper.
Coming out while someone is still part of the dressing room would, believes Solomona, be a massively transformative development for the sport. “I’m upset that lot of players have to hide their sexuality for an amount of years before they retire and then say they have come out, that they are gay,” said the Sale winger to RugbyPass.
“I hate that. I want everyone to be themselves. I love everyone for the way that they are regardless of what they do and what they are. I love them and I respect them. You know that is the biggest thing that we need to cover, equal rights. We need to accept everyone for who they are and what they do, regardless of what they are and what they believe in. I think everyone needs to be respected.
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“When you see a human being express themselves it’s the most beautiful thing. It’s amazing. When the best fly-half or the best scrum-half expresses their talent, it’s the best thing that they have ever done. I feel like that is the exact same with sexuality and mentality and I feel like that is what needs to be expressed out into the world, that everyone needs to express their beliefs and what they want to do.”
Ladies and gentlemen… your joint @premrugby top try scorer @DennySolomona ?? pic.twitter.com/cg1pCzfyqg
— Sale Sharks? (@SaleSharksRugby) May 22, 2019
Social media was the vice that led to Folau’s very public downfall. Solomona is wary of its mediums and how what is messaged can be negatively interpreted. Instead, give him face to face interaction any day rather than the often faceless judges and juries who cast aspersions online.
“Face to face interaction is a lot better because you can gauge where people are at emotionally and physically,” reasoned the 25-year-old. “Social media is a big platform where nowadays it’s a very big thing, as you can tell from a lot of international stars being a lot more outspoken than they would have been.
“But there is a lot of misinterpretation within text messages, Instagram, Twitter, within any social media. When you are face to face you can interpret the impression and the expression that is given to you. That is what what is important, that we can kind of engage that physical integration within each other and speak about our feelings in what we do. It’s a lot more better than telling each other what we do in Instagram and social media.”
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We are only getting started ?? ?? @JamalNiaz pic.twitter.com/Up5ocEjVqi
— Denny_Solomona (@DennySolomona) March 30, 2019
Fronting up and being candid was the reason Solomona was on his visit to London. He knew he would be getting an award for finishing the Premiership season as joint top try scorer on 12 along with Northampton’s Cobus Reinach, but just as important was his nomination for the Gallagher Insurance Community Player of the Year award that honoured players for commitment to both their sport and the wider rugby community.
Solomana ultimately didn’t win on the night – the award went to Bristol’s Nick Fenton-Wells. But he was delighted his dedication towards raising awareness of men’s mental health along with supporting Sale Sharks’ work in the community was recognised by his inclusion on the shortlist.
“It’s amazing. It would be great to have that accolade of having players’ player of the year (won by Danny Cipriani), but adding more purpose into my life is having a life outside of rugby. If I can impact one or two lives outside, I think I have done my purpose in life as an influencer.
Good luck to the dog whisperer tonight at the @premrugby awards ???
A lot of hard work these past few months & it’s been epic to witness! A well deserved nomination…?? @DennySolomona ??????? pic.twitter.com/DnRi47YYV1
— Craig Monaghan (@craig_monaghan) May 22, 2019
“If it helps one to five players in the world, I feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose in life. If I feel like I have encouraged one to five young kids to chase their dreams to become a professional athlete, if I have encouraged one to five adults to speak about their feelings or their mental health and if I have saved one or three lives, I’m happy I have done my job not only as a professional player but actually as a human being in general,” he explained.
“We have a mental health campaign at Sale where we go around different organisations and talk mental health. We talk about depression, anxiety, PTSD, all sorts. We have a guy called Craig Monaghan, an ex-veteran, so he talks about PTSD anxiety levels. I talk about rugby.
“Everyone thinks as a rugby player we have this sparkling life that we live, that you train twice a week, turn up Saturday and play. My talk is more the depression side where no-one sees the amount of local injections. I wouldn’t say that (this happens) as a club but local injections that players do take, or local injections that they do take leading up into the week to try and get through any little niggle they have to play the week after.
“That is the sort of thing we speak about. That regardless of what sort of lifestyle you do live everyone suffers from their mental health, everyone suffers from the same thing and what we do is try and expose that. Try and attack the stigma of everyone is a bit scared of saying I’m a bit depressed or I’m a bit suicidal. I’m happy to say I’m a bit depressed, I’m happy to say I was suicidal and I hope other people can be happy and express the way they feel. If they are feeling the exact same way, reach out to people.”
There was no reaching out towards Solomona as of last Wednesday by England, who face the Barbarians at Twickenham on June 2. It’s now last June since he was capped internationally. “I actually have no idea. I’m taking it day by day. If Eddie Jones calls me up, Eddie Jones calls me up. If he doesn’t I’ll have a pre-season to look forward to.”
What a pre-season that is likely to be at Carrington given Steve Diamond’s multiple high-profile signings. Sale even got an off-season boost this weekend, Champions Cup qualification secured due to the final day results in the French Top 14. “In regards to the depths of the squad, it’s going to be a top-four (Premiership) team definitely,” reckoned Solomona.
“We have got I would say the best back row in years to come. It’s the best back row Sale have had in years in regards to (Sebastien) Chabal and that as well. If you think about it, with Curry twins (Ben and Tom), both JL (du Preez) twins, Jono Ross, Josh Strauss, we have got international back rows in every three positions.
"One of the best finishes you'll ever see!"
"Even Yoda can't levitate like that!" ?
When @SaleSharksRugby get a bit of space they are simply breathtaking ?#RugbyTonight pic.twitter.com/Jr96LvleTq
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) May 22, 2019
“Whether you have a Currry, Curry and du Preez brother or we have Curry, JL or Jono Ross in the back row, it’s going to be a brutal back row and when one back row replaces another, the other team will be like, ‘Bloody hell, what have I got myself into?’
“We play entertaining rugby, we express ourselves in our skills and our assets. We have got an international back row, international front row with a back line that is very athletic and has try scoring machines in myself, (Chris) Ashton and Marland Yarde and Byron McGuigan.
“Even youngsters like Arron Reid, we have that strike power and with that strike power there are even better tries to come next season,” he said. Despite this, he deflected praise away from his quite extraordinary show of dexterity in dotting down in the corner last weekend versus Gloucester.
@DennySolomona @SaleSharksRugby Is there a better way to end the season ? ??????? pic.twitter.com/iD4oITBL8I
— Dom Edge (@Dom_Edge001) May 18, 2019
“It just comes down to, ‘I need to ground this ball, we’re losing and we have only got a certain amount of minutes left’. It just comes down to whether I want it more than the defender. I have done it numerous times against rugby league teams. I’m happy to see that my assets have been exploited in the rugby union scene as they have been in rugby league.
“But if it wasn’t for Ben Curry, Curtis Langdon, Faf de Klerk and AJ MacGinty, I wouldn’t have been in the position to score that try. When I get the ball, I am confident of finishing any try (chance) given to me. That is my job first and foremost as a winger, to finish opportunities. Ben, Curtis, Faf and AJ gave me that opportunity.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments