The career of one of the stars of Australia’s Rugby League is likely over after a picture has emerged of him engaging in a sex act with a friend’s dog.
The incident took place during Mad Monday – an Aussie rugby tradition following the end of the season involving vast quantities of alcohol.
The picture circulated within the rugby community for a couple of weeks. It leaked out earlier this week after someone posted it on Twitter. Initially, the player involved, Joel Monaghan, said nothing.
But speaking through his agent on Thursday, Monaghan, 28, admitted that it was him in the picture.
“Joel can't blame anyone but himself for an act of stupidity that will haunt him for the rest of his life,” agent Jim Banaghan wrote. “Joel has to now face his family as well as fans and supporters with that shame and has already undergone counselling to help him cope with the consequences of what has happened. It was a moment of abject stupidity brought about by too much drink and a complete lack of any thought process.”
Banaghan described the act as a “prank on an absent teammate.” The dog belonged to that teammate.
The picture sparked outrage amongst animal-rights activists.
“It’s not normal behaviour – whether you’re drunk or sober,” RSPCA spokesperson Michael Linke said. “It’s sickening behaviour.”
The anonymous Twitter member who first posted the pic told several Australian news outlets on Friday that he did it to highlight cruelty to animals.
Bestiality is not a crime in Australia, so Monaghan will face no charges.
However, it seems likely that his professional sports career is at an end. Both his team, the Canberra Raiders, and the National Rugby League are said to be preparing to cancel his contract.
Monaghan has yet to speak publicly about the incident.
