I disagree with you there, just because RL allowed some black players to be involved in the sport doesn't mean they were ever 'inclusive' or diverse as some have claimed and it was rare for black players to play as it is now. You had to be far and away better than a white man to get a look in, even Francis was forced away from the international scene because of his skin colour so that proves skin colour DID matter in RL!
Black players were employed solely on the basis that it made the chairmen money by winning games and getting bigger crowds through the gates, it was more Northern business savvy than anything to do with acceptance.

At last count there were 25 players who identified as BAME within RL top echelon, in 2000 that was 20, it hardly shouts to a sport being what some people claim it to be. Personally I don't really care how many of whatever background play, there's lots of reasons why people from certain backgrounds might not play or want to participate in x. And if people want to participate and achieve they can, even BAME sportspeople state this. https://www.2wheelchick.cc/2019/01/wome ... is-it.html
But making claims RL was ahead of the game with regards inclusivity because of some 'firsts' is just a whole pile of dung

I disagree with you there, just because RL allowed some black players to be involved in the sport doesn't mean they were ever 'inclusive' or diverse as some have claimed and it was rare for black players to play as it is now. You had to be far and away better than a white man to get a look in, even Francis was forced away from the international scene because of his skin colour so that proves skin colour DID matter in RL!
Black players were employed solely on the basis that it made the chairmen money by winning games and getting bigger crowds through the gates, it was more Northern business savvy than anything to do with acceptance.

At last count there were 25 players who identified as BAME within RL top echelon, in 2000 that was 20, it hardly shouts to a sport being what some people claim it to be. Personally I don't really care how many of whatever background play, there's lots of reasons why people from certain backgrounds might not play or want to participate in x. And if people want to participate and achieve they can, even BAME sportspeople state this. https://www.2wheelchick.cc/2019/01/wome ... is-it.html
But making claims RL was ahead of the game with regards inclusivity because of some 'firsts' is just a whole pile of dung

Don't forget how the GB touring party went to apartied South Africa leaving poor Billy Boston to go back home to the UK on his own. That is a stain on rugby league in this country. Once they were informed how Billy Boston would be treated in South Africa the squad and management should have called the whole damn thing off. That example is proof the sport wasn't as inclusive as people claim even though it was miles ahead of other sports in the UK.

Don't forget how the GB touring party went to apartied South Africa leaving poor Billy Boston to go back home to the UK on his own. That is a stain on rugby league in this country. Once they were informed how Billy Boston would be treated in South Africa the squad and management should have called the whole damn thing off. That example is proof the sport wasn't as inclusive as people claim even though it was miles ahead of other sports in the UK.

Exactly. Many a sport can lay claim to having black athletes competing 100 years ago but that doesn't mean they were inclusive. It just means they were good for business.

Boxing had a black world champions in the early 1900's but that was far from a sport that black athletes had equality.

Exactly. Many a sport can lay claim to having black athletes competing 100 years ago but that doesn't mean they were inclusive. It just means they were good for business.

Boxing had a black world champions in the early 1900's but that was far from a sport that black athletes had equality.