The editor of the NZ herald doesn't think such thoughts are racist. while people on here are hand wringing, they go with an editorial: www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... id=3584192 "european teenagers vs bulkier polynesians"

The editor of the NZ herald doesn't think such thoughts are racist. while people on here are hand wringing, they go with an editorial: www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... id=3584192 "european teenagers vs bulkier polynesians"

Does anybody know what the participation percentages are in comparison to the UK population? I would hazard a guess that the percentage is slightly higher than the population percentage which is around 8% I think. If each starting 13 has more than one player from a BME background then they'll be above that average.

I'm in agreement though about the issue of participation at lower levels of the game and in coaching set ups as well.

So the natural conclusion to reach would be that 30 years ago White Europeans were genetically different, right? I mean, that's the reasoning we're employing here, aren't we? A causes B; B exists; therefore A is the cause.

Consider this statement, which is also backed up by results. 'Dentists are genetically predisposed to play Rugby Union.' A causes B; B exists; therefore A is the cause. You might wish to respond to that statement, which is presented as a "fact", with the counter argument "the amateur status of the game favoured an interest from participants from a particular socio-economic background, of which dentists were a part", thus showing that my statement was a gross misrepresentation and simplification of the multiplicity and complexity of dentistry.


Long distance running has nothing to do with racial traits. (In fact, it's worth pointing out that races are artificial (man-made) categories and do not exist naturally. One could argue with just as much legitimacy that blue eyes or ginger hair represented categories of humans.) It is to do with hemoglobin-oxygen affinity which is altered with exposure to different altitudes.


My opinions aren't formed by anything lefty or pc-mad, rather scientific and academic literature.

You can also extend this theory to social class because it exists there and it's why RL players will always be better than RU players. Sons that come from a long line of tough men tend to be tougher than sons that come from a long line of, say, members of the gentry. It doesn't explain though why the West Indies haven't produced any great fast bowlers for twenty odd years.

Benji Marshall might be a little surprised to hear he is a little white bloke running around, the brains of the operation because those maori's and polynesians arent smart enough to have a 6 on their back. BTW it does seem very odd that Maori's and Polynesians have different attributes.

Also can I ask why Swimming isnt an explosive sport but sprinting is? What about weightlifting, surely the very epitome of explosive power why is that generally dominated by eastern European and central asians? Also its very strange that afro-carribean athletes cant compete with athletes from Africa in distance running. Would have thought one of the main reasons the afro-carribean community was so named was because of a hereditary link to..... well, africa.

Oh and to answer you first question his name is Christophe Lemaitre and probably not that long in the future.

There is no evidence that black people are more athletically suited to league. For you to say it is true, I assume you have some evidence to back this point?

Your whole argument is based on speculation and ignorance to be fair.

This is purely anecdotal and has no bearing on the athleticism question but on the OP - is British League too white? - I can't help noticing how few non-white kids appear in the photos in League talk. Maybe someone can enlighten me about participation in areas with large non-white populations. Are the pictures unrepresentative? Is there in fact healthy participation around Leeds and Bradford etc.?

Again, anecdotally and maybe wide of the mark but at the Skolars/Leigh game yesterday Skolars fielded three black players (would have been four if Bryan hadn't been withdrawn to prevent him being cup-tied) and Leigh fielded one, who happens to have come through the London system.

On the other hand there does seem a steady stream of superb black players in League, so the obvious question is, regardless of other issues, are we missing out on even more?

Quote SmokeyTA="SmokeyTA" Oh and to answer you first question his name is Christophe Lemaitre and probably not that long in the future.'" He's the best of the white sprinters at the moment & at 200m might have a decent chance of a medal but won't get a sniff of gold IMO Think you should all have a good read of this (opens a pdf file) which is a report made by hertfordshire Uni www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... D9v9VBQQzA and then have a good rethink about what has been said.

Quote SmokeyTA="SmokeyTA" Oh and to answer you first question his name is Christophe Lemaitre and probably not that long in the future.'" He's the best of the white sprinters at the moment & at 200m might have a decent chance of a medal but won't get a sniff of gold IMO Think you should all have a good read of this (opens a pdf file) which is a report made by hertfordshire Uni www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... D9v9VBQQzA and then have a good rethink about what has been said.

Its about players being the best, not what colour they are, give me 17 world class purple and green striped players and I will be happy.

Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"He's the best of the white sprinters at the moment & at 200m might have a decent chance of a medal but won't get a sniff of gold IMO Think you should all have a good read of this (opens a pdf file) which is a report made by hertfordshire Uni www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... D9v9VBQQzA and then have a good rethink about what has been said.'" Indeed. Biological/racial stereotypes have been prevalent for some time and have been written about in quite some volume. Football, being as big as it is, has been the focus of a whole host of studies confirming the outcome of the study you linked to, in so far as scouts, coaches, trainers, board members etc make the same assumptions about race and employ the same stereotypes which then form part of a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"He's the best of the white sprinters at the moment & at 200m might have a decent chance of a medal but won't get a sniff of gold IMO Think you should all have a good read of this (opens a pdf file) which is a report made by hertfordshire Uni www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... D9v9VBQQzA and then have a good rethink about what has been said.'" Indeed. Biological/racial stereotypes have been prevalent for some time and have been written about in quite some volume. Football, being as big as it is, has been the focus of a whole host of studies confirming the outcome of the study you linked to, in so far as scouts, coaches, trainers, board members etc make the same assumptions about race and employ the same stereotypes which then form part of a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Rancid thread.