My West Indies squad would make a super 7

MARO ITOJE recently emphasised the contribution of Nigerian heritage players to English rugby by selecting an impressive strong ‘Nigerian XV’ playing with distinction in this country. It’s a cracking lineup, skippered by the great man himself. Perhaps a game against the Barbarians could be arranged at some stage?

But it isn’t only black players of Nigerian extraction who have enriched our game. Let’s consider the West Indies. A lack of forwards means I can’t quite match Maro’s Nigerian XV but over the decades you can compile an impressive list of West Indian heritage players who have lit up the playing fields of England.

It all started with the first black player to represent England, James Peters, son of a Jamaican lion-trainer who toured Britain with a circus. A dashing fly-half, Peters looked poised to transform the England team when his career was shunted into decline by the touring South Africans in 1906 who, having played against him when he represented Devon, demanded his exclusion on ground of race. England, to their shame, complied.

I have confined this squad to England and England qualified players but there is also a long tradition of players of West Indian heritage in south Wales such as Alex Givvons, Billy Boston, Johnny Freeman, Colin Dixon, Frank Wilson, Glenn Webbe, Martyn Madden, Aled Brew. Gerald Cordle and Anthony Sullivan. France have benefitted from that region as well, not least in the shape of Venezuelan-born Serge Blanco.

Just study the names below and imagine what a world-beating Sevens team you could put together.