BLACK GIRLS RUCK (BGR) was formed in June 2020 to highlight Black women and non-binary people in the sport of rugby. Over the past three years, the BGR initiative has grown extensively with a podcast now regularly reaching an audience of over 200 subscribers on Spotify and all other podcast streaming platforms.
The podcast focuses on influential Black women that play rugby locally and internationally. Previous guests include England Internationals such as; Sadia Kabeya, Shaugnah Brown and Simi Pam. We have also worked with brands such as Guinness, Gay Times, and Gymshark on advertising campaigns and were the hosts of the inaugural Rugby Black List Awards
Women’s Rugby is the fastest-growing sport in the UK, over the past five years, the number of adult women playing rugby has grown from 25,000 to 40,000 in England and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has ambitious targets to grow the numbers to 100,000 by 2027.
This is incredible however there is still loads of work to be done. BGR is here to ensure that Black Women are represented in this growing movement and feel like they belong. The need to increase and support Black women’s involvement in sports is at an all-time high.
Whilst having important and challenging conversations on the podcast it is apparent that one of the main hurdles black people have to face when embarking on their rugby dream is the cost.The BGR hardship fund has been created to offer financial support to black women, non binary people and girls who would like to explore their potential in rugby.
The hardship fund will be available from November 2023 to help cover the following costs;
-Match Subs
-Contribution to annual club membership
-Contributions to purchases of rugby gear
-Contribution towards rugby related training such as coaching & refereeing courses
No amount is too big or too small. With your generous donations and support we can begin to help those that need it most and build a world where black people can thrive in rugby.
Black identity is not monolithic, we are not all the same. There shouldn’t be an expectation that I am fast, I can be a whole host of things – my gender and race are one part of my identity, but not all of my identity. Allowing people to have differences, embracing those, and not thinking that people must act or behave in a certain way as a black woman is important to me.
Selhurst Community Sports Arena (SCSAP) is a community-based not for profit organisation. Whilst a stand alone organisation, it is part of the Communities First Charitable Foundation that has been asked to manage the Selhurst Astroturf at Dagnall Park until 2039 under an agreement with Croydon Borough Council who owns the Selhurst facility.
