Spot on - no further discussion required, unless it's about how junior clubs can do more to ensure they're accessible to all sections of society.

he was not being racist at all. what is racist about that - it is like saying that japan are at a disadvantage at basketball, as their players are generally not as tall. Scotland is at a disadvantage against jamaica at sprinting... our athletes are not as naturally quick/explosive.

the same can be said about Rugby League. New zealanders are aware of this... the 'white flight' in kids rugby union as white parents stop their kids playing as their polynesian counterparts are bigger, faster and far stronger... despite being the same age.

Pseudo-biological stereotypes which perpetuate a mythical heirarchy of race are racist, yes.

it isn't a "mythical heirarchy of race". It is backed up by results. A white european has not won the olympic 100m (or any sprint event of real note...) for 30 odd years. If this is such a 'myth', then when do you think the next white european winner will be?

similarily, afro-carribean athletes struggle in other events... swimming etc, and distance running (dominated by north african, or smaller east african athletes).... i suggest that a samoan would struggle to win the london marathon. Mere stereotyping? i don't think so. Does it place samoans any higher or lower in a 'racial hierarchy'? of course not.

RugbyLeague needs size, strength, pace, and via a combination of those... explosive power. A low-ish centre of gravity undoubtedly helps too. Certain races typically possess more of these attributes than others.

Rugby League is full of lefty, pc-mad fans, who bleat on about nothing. While you are complaining about racial stereotypes, the Kiwis (a country of 3million people) will continue to smash england by fielding a combination of [EXTREME EXAMPLE] - 8 big fast polynesians, 4 agressive abrasive physical maoris, and 1 little white bloke with 6 on his back... the 'brains of the operation'. In keeping with the racial sterotyping, the new zealanders will also be laughing at your team for being weedy, slow and fat.

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 " 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 " 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.