The Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has shot down former St. George Dragons and boxing champion Anthony Mundine’s call for NRL and AFL players to boycott the national anthem.

Turnbull, asked on Melbourne radio whether Mundine’s calls were “divisive”, with the PM replying: “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

“Both codes, AFL and NRL, work hard to be inclusive and embrace modern Australia and all of its diversity and this is a time when we all come together,” Turnbull told 3AW.

“Everyone should sing. Those like myself, who are perhaps not the best singers, should perhaps sing quietly so as not to ruin the experience for neighbours. But I think everyone should sing and everyone should just be proud about their country, our country, and the fact that we can come together in sport.

“Sport is a really wonderful, inclusive institution in Australia. It divides us in the sense that we back different teams, but only in a pretty good natures way, but above all it pulls us together and I think it’s wonderful for that reason and that’s why we should all sing.”