In a world first, executives from Australia's major sporting codes made a commitment on Wednesday to rid their sports of homophobia.

All four football codes as well as Cricket Australia presented a united front in Sydney, emphasising the need to end discrimination in sport.

The agreement came ahead of the Bingham Cup, the world cup of gay rugby, with all codes agreeing to introduce policies in line with the new Anti-Homophobia and Inclusion Framework by the end of August.

It marks the first time in all the major professional sports in a country have collectively committed to tackling discrimination based on sexual orientation by way of inclusion policies.

"Put simply, we believe that every individual - whether they're players, supporters, coaches or administrators - should all feel safe, welcome and included, regardless of race, gender and sexuality," ARU chief executive Bill Pulver said.

Bingham Cup president Andrew Purchas applauded the ARU for its commitment to the Inclusion Policy last year.

"The ARU's immediate and absolute support for this initiative has been critical to its widespread adoption," he said in a statement.

"Australian Rugby has demonstrated strong and enduring support for the Bingham Cup, the Sydney Convicts Rugby club and the other gay Rugby teams around Australia."

Andrew Purchas & #BinghamCup deserve great credit for organizing such a united sporting front to oppose homophobia - Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) April 9, 2014

NRL chief executive Dave Smith said his sport was making a concerted effort to make sure all people feel welcome rugby league at all levels.

South Sydney, Queensland, Australia and two-time Indigenous All-Star Greg Inglis echoed the importance of the anti-discrimination message.

"It is important to focus on a person's ability to play sport and not on stereotypes about race, gender, sexuality, disability or any other issue," Inglis said in an NRL statement.

"Rugby league is a sport that everyone can play so it is great to see the NRL implementing a policy that will make everyone feel good about being part of the game.

"From my personal experience, the NRL has been incredibly supportive of Indigenous players through the All Stars concept, the Indigenous Players Camp, Close the Gap Round and a whole range of other initiatives and programs."

Inglis urges gay NRL players to come out

Inglis says he would support any gay NRL player who came out and believes it would be an enormous burden removed for someone who did.

Inglis joined a cast of high-profile athletes and administrators from Australia's four football codes and cricket in speaking out against homophobia in sport.

"If individuals want to come out and promote that they're gay or they're not, I'm all for it," Inglis said.

"I'm a big believer, a firm believer, in respecting what others are and who they are.

"The environment that I grew up in and the teams I've been involved in have always embraced that and that's just the way the culture is."

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Ian Roberts, almost 20 years ago, has been the only Australian professional rugby player to publicly reveal he was gay and Smith applauded the former Manly, NSW State of Origin and Australian Test star for his courage.

"When you look back at the history of the game, the names that stand out are the one who have done something to change the fabric of the game," Smith said.

"People like Ian Roberts, who, in 1995, took the brave step of one of the toughest rugby league players in the game to declare that he was gay.

"The great thing was not that Ian was brave enough to make that declaration, but that it was so sensitively received by his peers in the rugby league community."

Inglis has no doubts modern-day gay players would be similarly embraced in the NRL.

"Especially in the sporting environment we're in now and the culture that Australia is in the sporting world, I think it's just each to their own," he said.

"Whoever's come out and said they're gay, just move on. They're here to have fun and sport is a great opportunity for that.

"If they're there, then they're there. I think when they come out, they'll probably create of lot of relief off their shoulders, a lot of weight off their shoulders."

Inglis also endorsed the stance of the sporting executives who challenged players to stop using loose phrases in the locker-room like: "Don't do that, it's gay."

"If you stamp that out, then it will probably help players that come out a bit more," Inglis said.

"In saying that, you never know until they actually come out and say it.

"I'm definitely happy to put my hand up and be one of the leaders behind this great initiative."

ABC/AAP