𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓: 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐲𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 (𝐍𝐑𝐋). 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲… 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

In a heartfelt message that has sent waves through the National Rugby League (NRL) community, Sydney Roosters forward Nat Butcher and his wife Harmony Butcher have shared deeply personal news with fans and the wider rugby league family.

While the full details of their announcement are being kept private at the couple’s request, the Butchers thanked supporters for their overwhelming kindness and compassion in recent days, and asked for respect and privacy as they navigate this chapter together.

The statement, released through social media late yesterday, read in part that the couple were “incredibly humbled and grateful” for the messages of encouragement they’ve received from across the NRL world, and appealed to the public to allow them space to focus on their family outside of the game.

The reaction from players, officials and fans alike has been one of unity and support — a testament to the strong community spirit within rugby league.

Nat Butcher, 28, has been a stalwart of the Roosters pack since his NRL debut in 2016, known for his versatility and tireless work ethic on the field. Off the field, he and Harmony have often shared glimpses of their family life, including joyfully announcing earlier this year that they were expecting twins — news that delighted followers and drew widespread celebration across the sport. �

Celebrity

Club leaders and teammates have also publicly backed the couple, acknowledging their contribution to the Roosters and the broader rugby league family. Coaches emphasized that player wellbeing and family support remain priorities for the organisation.

The Roosters, who recently announced key leadership appointments for the season — with James Tedesco continuing as captain and Nat Butcher as part of the leadership group — reiterated their commitment to standing with Nat and Harmony during this time. �

Sydney Roosters

The Butchers’ openness and the response it has triggered highlights a growing culture in the NRL that supports players’ lives beyond the field — celebrating not just athletic achievement but the personal journeys that define them.

More details are expected to surface in the coming days, but for now the rugby league community continues to rally behind the couple with messages of love, strength and support.