In the aftermath of the tragic stabbing incident at Westfield Bondi Junction, where six individuals tragically lost their lives, the renowned sports apparel retailer Rebel has taken the decision to discontinue the sale of Kangaroos rugby league jerseys. This decision was prompted by the revelation that the assailant, Joel Cauchi, was donning one of the distinctive green and gold jumpers during the harrowing attack.
The haunting images of Cauchi wearing the Kangaroos jersey as he stalked shoppers have been widely circulated and published, prompting Rebel to take decisive action. The choice to cease the sale of Kangaroos apparel, both at the physical Bondi Junction store and online, serves as a sincere acknowledgement of the grievous incident that transpired on April 13th.
Visitors browsing the Rebel website would now encounter a message indicating the unavailability of Kangaroos products, following the removal of the jerseys from sale at the retailer.
The perpetrator, Joel Cauchi, originally hails from Queensland and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 17. He was subsequently shot by the first responding police officer after attempting to contain him, with retail staff securing the area.
The victims of this appalling attack comprised new mother Ashlee Good, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, architect Jade Young, security guard Faraz Tahir, artist Pikria Darchia, and economics student Yixuan Cheng. A further twelve individuals sustained serious injuries, including Ashlee Good’s nine-month-old daughter.
Westfield Bondi Junction reopened its doors to the public on April 19th, following a special day allowing those affected by the tragedy to walk through the complex.
Despite the decision to discontinue kangaroos jerseys at the Bondi Junction store, it was not feasible to extend this measure to all Rebel stores nationwide. Additionally, visits to various Rebel stores indicated varying availability of the jerseys, with some outlets not stocking any licensed merchandise at all.
Classic Sportswear, the manufacturer of the Kangaroos kit, confirmed that they were unaware of any stockist withdrawing the jerseys from sale. Their general manager also conveyed that there were no plans to pause sales of the Kangaroos range, with the anticipated 2024 Kangaroos range to be available to retailers around September.
NRL sources reported being unaware of any retailer halting sales of Kangaroos gear. Despite Rebel’s decision, the jerseys remained available at nrlshop.com and other retailers, including Peter Wynn’s Score at Parramatta.
Established in 1985 and owned by Super Retail Group, Rebel has positioned itself as “Australia’s leading sports retailer offering the biggest range and the best global brands.”
The extension of the withdrawal of Kangaroos rugby league jerseys from the Bondi Junction store to other outlets, or whether this is a temporary measure in response to recent tragic events, remains to be seen.