Lead fight against racism, WRU told
THE Welsh Rugby Union are being urged to spearhead a global movement within the sport under the banner of Black Lives Matter.
Cardiff Metropolitan University RFC, whose 40plus international players range from Sir Gareth Edwards to England’s Alex Dombrandt, are calling on the governing body to take the radical step of inserting an anti-racism rule into their constitution.
The club have sent the WRU a paper entitled ‘Black Lives Matter’ after one of their black students was racially abused during a Welsh League match last season. It asks the Union to make it obligatory for every club to tackle racism headon by conducting annual seminars as a prelude to the season.
The paper, from club chairman John Pugh, brother of former WRU and IRB chairman, the late Vernon Pugh, challenges the Union to lead the way in showing the game at large how to eliminate racism:
“Recent committee members’ meetings and a separate assembly that included players’ representatives alongside our coaching staff and team management felt strongly the need to have an operational strategy to deal with the issue.
“These meetings have concluded that while we do not believe there is a prescriptive answer to racism, we do believe clubs should be helped in dealing with racism and racist behaviour on and off the field.
“This was contextualized for us as a club in that we experienced an occurrence
of racist abuse targeted at one of our players during a game last season. We are advocating that racial abuse on the field and systemic racism should be covered by prescribed protocols.
“We define protocol according to the accepted definition, as a rule or system of rules that explain the correct conduct and procedure to be followed in both formal and informal settings.”
Pugh suggests that the following protocol should be inserted in the Union’s ‘Governance’ code in the ‘Articles of Association’:
“All clubs and associate member clubs are required on an annual basis prior to the start of the rugby season to conduct workshops or seminars to discuss racism and racial abuse on and off the field.’’
The letter praises WRU chairman Gareth Davies for his unequivocal support of Black Lives Matter and challenges the Union to deliver “a clear commitment from the most senior levels of the WRU and the clubs”. Pugh told The Rugby
Paper: “This is a big issue in football but it is also a major issue in rugby. We have to face that reality and take effective action.
“World Rugby should be looking at this. I want the WRU to take the lead and show everyone the way. They have our paper.’’
Cardiff Met’s initiative comes against a backdrop of black rugby players being abused in Wales. Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt, son of a Jamaican father and a Welsh mother, has spoken out, saying: “If people were really equal, we’d see a lot more celebration of Black excellence and achievements.’’
Police are investigating an incident at Pontardulais RFC when team-mates abused their 22-year-old flyhalf George Mbofana. He posted a video online appearing to show another Pontardulais player mocking the Black Lives Matter movement.
Llanrumney walked out of their match against Gwent club Trefil in January after their centre, Wayne Dacruz, had been racially abused. The WRU banned the Trefil player responsible for eight weeks.
Cardiff Met are still awaiting a response to their letter but WRU chairman Davies has given a clear lead on the subject.
“Black lives matter,’’ he said. “We are not a political organisation but we are aware of our role at the very heart of Welsh culture and the responsibility that comes with that position.”