"Ben had been in a difficult domestic situation, Davis says. I wanted to create something to enthuse him so he had a target. I thought if he had the opportunity to represent the country of his parents, that might be the thing that keeps him in rugby. The 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson, who is of Jamaican heritage, has said players from more deprived areas have traditionally been failed by the sport's authorities."
"Here is an example of people at grassroots level, working as volunteers, trying to change that reality. I wanted to create a sustainable pathway so we could work with the same lads and develop them, Davis says. But at the same time attracting new players and spreading our reach. I did sessions in Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bristol and London. I wanted to give kids from different parts of the country opportunities."
Jamaica UK Rugby, operating under the Jamaican Rugby Football Union, has grown to around 500 members with youth sides and international pathways for sevens and 15s. Volunteers on both sides of the Atlantic run sessions and create opportunities for players of Jamaican heritage across multiple UK cities. A London-based coach, Phil Davis, created a 15s pathway for a young prop, aiming to keep him engaged and to build a sustainable development route. Sessions were held in Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bristol and London. Leadership from Jamaica Rugby UK balances professional jobs with coordinating playing and coaching structures.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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