Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

England prop Beno Obano says rugby has become more self-aware

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Thursday, 03 December 2020 11:00

Bath prop Beno Obano says the campaign for a more just society after George Floyd's death in May has changed elite rugby for the better.

"Certain conversations I have had with other players, they just became more self-aware," Obano told BBC Sport.

"It made people realise things they may have said or done might be taken poorly by someone else from another race."

A former Minneapolis police officer has been charged with murder after George Floyd was killed in his custody.

Footage of Derek Chauvin, who is white, kneeling on 46-year-old Floyd's neck sparked worldwide protests for racial justice.

As rugby returned in England after a coronavirus-enforced lay-off, both Premiership teams and the national team have marked their commitment to a just society before kick-off in matches.

Obano, who has made a documentary with Amazon called 'Everyone's Game' about race, class and inclusion in rugby,external-link says that Floyd's death and the protests that followed have prompted dialogue, in his experience.

"It's been more a discussion, people wanted to learn, to know more," he added.

"People wanted to learn more about how you feel in these times, and is this the case for you - everyone just cared really.

"It was nice to have those conversations. I don't want to have too many of them, I want to talk about other stuff, but it was nice to have them at some point."

Bath were one of the Premiership teams to mark their support of Rugby Against Racism by taking a knee.

Other teams chose different displays of solidarity, while some England players have decided not to take a knee alongside their team-mates before Tests.

"There wasn't really a conversation about it, it was, 'if there is a problem come and tell us, come and have a word if you don't want to'," Obano said of his club's approach.

"Otherwise we will assume that you want to kneel. That was the stance and everybody wanted to, so it was nice at Bath that that happened."

Fewer than 10% of Premiership rugby players are UK black and minority ethnic.

However, 35% of the England squad who made the 2019 Rugby World Cup final were, a significant increase over the past two decades.

Read 328 times

Soccer

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Diego Simeone's 700th game in charge of Atlético Madrid ended in a late 2-1 win over Deportivo Alave...

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFormer Aston Villa and Sweden defender Olof Mellberg has signed a m...

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMikel Arteta has hit back at anyone questioning Bukayo Saka's commi...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

EmailPrintThe NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes followi...

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

EmailPrintNew Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has undergone multiple treatments on his left ha...

Baseball

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan -...

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge is one of the few people on Earth who can r...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated