Black History Month: Making a difference in coaching & playing for Jamaica
Aaron Lowe was awarded Rugby Black List Community Coach 2024, having “demonstrated outstanding levels of care, empathy and understanding throughout his coaching career.”
His mother’s parents came to the UK from Jamaica, which means he qualifies to play rugby for Jamaica and runs out for them at both sevens and 15s. The current setup sees him pay for his flights and sometimes his accommodation like several other UK-based players.
“Covid badly hit rugby union in Jamaica and has meant locally based players are involved in rugby league, transitioning to union for tournaments/competitions. It’s important to up the status of union, both for potential sponsor support and development,” he says.
In May, Aaron and seven other UK players helped the Jamaica 15s squad secure a first win over Bermuda in their Rugby Americas North Men’s Championship campaign. Aaron, playing 10, converted two of three tries.
“Most of the UK-based players want to leave the sport in a better place for future Jamaican. The win against Bermuda was important, especially as we have a lot of players committed to representing and bettering Jamaica Rugby. It was a tough match which we won 19-14.”
This was the first Test match since 2019 when Bermuda won 42-14. In November, Jamaica 7s will play in Rugby Americas North in Trinidad, hoping to qualify for the Challenger Series. The team, having made it through in the past, failed to qualify last year and Aaron wants to see growth for Jamaica Rugby and put them back in top competitions.
Choosing rugby as a child
Having been taken along, aged eight, to Eton Manor rugby club by his dad, who himself favoured running and particularly boxing, Aaron also went to football training.
“I think I chose rugby because I grew up in Hackney where everyone played football, and I liked that rugby was different. I found it more exciting.”
In his teenage years, he played for Barking RFC and was still playing for them as he studied for a sports coaching degree at Hartpury, playing some BUCS games for the university. Moving south after university, he played for Chichester, then signed up for Wimbledon and later Hertford, before returning to Eton Manor as player-coach.
Passion for coaching
“I began coaching when I moved to Chichester and got a real passion for it and have since always coached to some degree.”
After the past three years as Head of Girls Rugby at Henley College where he helped build strong links between grassroots rugby and the pathway, making the Henley College Girls Programme, a leading programme and partner to Ealing Trailfinders and, until this year, to Brunel University, Aaron recently moved to Manchester.
He’s just starting as Head of Rugby at Bury Grammar School, as well as working with Sale Sharks women’s squad, and is still part of the RFU Coach Education workforce.
More diversity in coaching and officiating
Aaron strongly believes that to be successful and grow numbers rugby needs more diversity in coaching and refereeing.
“You look up to people where you can see yourself or where they are from similar backgrounds, and we need a similar representation off the pitch as on it in the professional game. In my opinion, we shouldn’t be struggling to find that representation in roles across the country. We need more people of colour in coaching and refereeing to grow the game.”
He says that he experienced racial abuse as a player a couple of times. “That was around ten years ago and, just as there’s more focus on mental health support now, I’d hope there is more support when something racially motivated happens.
“Education on that front is better now but prejudice has not been eradicated and we always need to do more. If you look at the recent riots, it took people to stand up for those from different cultures to prevent some of the riots from happening and when there are instances of racial abuse in the game there needs to be clear action and support.
“When people are responsible for that abuse, they need to put their hands up, apologise and accept the repercussions of their actions, or players of different races will feel that it’s being brushed aside.
“For me, rugby is a good environment, but I have black and white parentage so may have experienced fewer issues to others and most of the time I’ve felt safe. I do, however, think it’s more difficult for people of colour to get those backroom jobs within the sport and it’s important to see diversity in those roles as they can offer the same quality.”
