Black Girls Ruck
Rugby is a game where everyone is welcome and there’s a position for all to play. However, sometimes perceptions of the game need challenging and that’s exactly what Anne Onwusiri, the founder and host of the podcast, Black Girls Ruck and co-host Lamees Idris have been doing as they shine a light on black women in rugby.
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The podcast was set up in 2020 during the pandemic and it became so popular that it has grown into a community and a rugby squad based at Hackney RFC. Anne explains how Black Girls Ruck grew from a group chat, gaining traction and growing beyond initial expectations.
“We wanted to make the game feel comfortable for black women, create a space where they feel safe and welcome and give others the experience that we have had playing rugby.”
There are seemingly small but important issues particular to the group, like hair.
Jazz Boatswain, a Hackney player and contestant of Season 2 of The Traitors, said: “”What do I do with my hair playing rugby? Do I have braids? What if I have a weave? It’s nice to know I have a community of people I can ask.”
Atinuke Akindiya, one of her teammates adds: “There are times when I’ve been injured and not as motivated to continue playing. Just knowing there are people similar to me who are also playing gives me that motivation to carry on.”
Black Girls Ruck now encompasses players from the grassroots to professional players, like England flanker Sadia Kabeya who says: “It’s a community that inspires girls to get into the game.”
And should bigger issues than hairstyles arise, if there are issues around discrimination, there’s a support system and empowerment of players to speak up and be heard.
Says Anne: “With 80 people in the group chat, they’d have 80 people that would come and fight for them!”
Having hosted a sevens tournament, expecting seven to ten players and getting 25 wanting to be involved and fans watching, “We want to keep providing opportunities for people, keep flying!” says Lamee.
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