Twickenham Celebrates the Contributions of Black and Ethnic Minority Communities in Rugby
The home of English rugby, Twickenham, reverberated with a different beat on Monday night as the Rugby Black List awards ceremony honored the contributions of those from black and ethnic minority communities to the country’s beloved game.
Sagan Daniels, the founder of the Rugby Black List, expressed the privilege of being involved in the broader rugby landscape. “I’ve always loved the game and I loved playing it. I love the community feel you get from it, but it needed an understanding that it wasn’t just a Barbour-wearing, Guinness-swigging thing. It was for all echelons of British society.”
In its second year, the Rugby Black List awards celebrated and amplified the positive work, involvement, and activity of people from the black community within the sport of rugby union. Rugby legend Martin Offiah was among the stars recognized for his contributions to both rugby union and league.
“It’s nice to be at Twickenham and see so many black faces,” said Offiah. “It still feels surreal. Long may it continue.”
The event comes at a time when the upper echelons of English rugby have been historically dominated by white faces, with those from minority groups often overlooked. However, the recent progression of players such as Chandler Cunningham-South, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ollie Lawrence, and Max Ojomoh into the England senior squad is a positive step in showcasing the pathway for those from diverse backgrounds.
RFU chair Tom Ilube emphasized the organization’s desire to expand the game at all levels, bringing in people from different communities. “The great thing about rugby is that our core values – teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship – are valuable across every different part of society. The more we can get different communities to come and play, the better.”
While progress has been made, there is still work to be done to ensure English rugby truly represents the country’s cultural diversity. Initiatives such as Project Rugby and Black Girls Ruck are helping to drive inclusivity and better tell the stories of the sport’s diverse players.
The Rugby Black List awards shine a light on the extraordinary efforts of black men and women who promote the game at the grassroots level, while also recognizing the elite players making their mark, including Exeter’s Feyi-Waboso, Sale’s Asher Opoku-Fordjour, and Harlequins Women’s Babalwa Latsha.
As Topsy Ojo, a former wing with London Irish and England, noted, “Rugby is doing a lot to be more representative and reach out to areas where the sport isn’t that popular or that well known. It’s still got a lot more work to do because it can still be seen as a sport that is only for some.”
The journey towards true diversity and inclusion in English rugby continues, but events like the Rugby Black List awards provide a platform to celebrate the progress made and inspire further change.
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