Cronulla thigh tattoos: Rising footy star Joshua Taylor-Myles – who sparked outrage with his offensive tattoos – covers them up after being handed an ultimatum

Rising footy star Joshua Taylor-Myles has chosen to hide his offensive thigh tattoos after being warned he could be banned from the sport.

The 23-year-old hooker, who plays for the Aquinas Colts in Sydney’s south-west, posted a photo from a tattoo parlour on his Instagram on Saturday.

The photo shows two artists creating intricate illustrations on the ‘eat s**t fa***t’ tattoo on his right thigh and the ‘snort lines and f***’ tattoo on his left thigh.

It comes less than two weeks after Taylor-Myles was given an ultimatum: either cover up the offending ink or risk being banned from any NSWRL competition.

A spokesperson for NSWRL previously told Ny Breaking Australia the father-of-one had been given an official warning and asked to cover up the tattoos.

“The NSWRL and Cronulla JRL are committed to providing a safe, fun and inclusive environment for everyone, including people of different sexualities and genders. Being an inclusive sport not only reflects our core values, but also the diversity of our local communities,” the spokesperson said.

‘We do not tolerate any form of bullying, intimidation or vilification of people with different sexual orientations and genders.’

The tattoos caused a stir after Taylor-Myles was selected to play in the NSWRL Luke Lewis Cup. An image of the tattoo went viral on social media.

Joshua Taylor-Myles (pictured) was told to cover up the ink or risk being banned from the sport

It is understood Cronulla officials were only made aware of the highly offensive tattoos when a photo of them circulated on social media.

At least two images of Taylor-Myles’ legs were removed from the club’s social media pages as commentators branded the tattoos ‘disgusting’ and social media users called on the athlete to laser them off.

Long-standing club members question how the scandal was handled.

“He should be given the boot from the club if he refuses to cover those tattoos,” a former club member told Ny Breaking Australia.

“I understand, we all make mistakes, but there is hardly any reasonable excuse as to why you would ever have such offensive words thrown into your body.

‘He wouldn’t play if I was still at the club.’

News Corp commentator Buzz Rothfield called the tattoos “just hideous.”

A spokesperson for NSWRL previously told Ny Breaking Australia that the father of one (pictured) had been given an official warning and asked to cover up the tattoos

“They’re so insulting. It’s so homophobic. They didn’t realize it. They haven’t checked the leg tattoos of every player they pick in rep sides but when a photo of the player was posted on social media they recognized it and sent it to the New South Wales Rugby League and well done Dave Trodden,” he said.

Rothfield said Mr Trodden, NSWRL’s chief executive, “jumped on to it straight away”.

“He said we have a zero tolerance policy towards any form of bullying, harassment or defamation against people of different sexual orientations and genders,” he continued.

‘They told the guy, ‘Cover them with tape or you’ll never play in a New South Wales Rugby League sanctioned competition again.’ I applaud them for pushing his bullshit so hard.

“He plays in a club where a lot of young women and men join for the fun, for the camaraderie, and that’s just so out of place.”