THE SCOTTISH Rugby Union insists it stands firmly behind the fight against racism despite only four players choosing to take the knee ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup win at Twickenham.
Gregor Townsend’s team recorded their first away win over England since 1983 but have faced a backlash after the vast majority of the matchday squad opted not to join in with the gesture supporting the Black Lives Matter movement before kick-off in London.
Murrayfield chiefs have now reiterated their backing for equality – but say it remains down to individual players to decide how they show that support in future.
The SRU said in a statement: “Scottish Rugby fully supports rugby’s ongoing work to end discrimination and racism in our sport.
“This commitment has been expressed with a moment of reflection before every international match since the summer of 2020 and our players are free to demonstrate their support for this important issue in the way they see fit.”
While it has become commonplace for footballers to take the knee before all domestic and international fixtures, there has been no such uniform approach within rugby.
Ahead of their matches in the Autumn Nations Cup, the Scotland players joined in a “moment of reflection” aimed at supporting not only the fight against racism but also offering thanks to the NHS and frontline workers for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As well as the four Scotland players – Ali Price, Jonny Gray, Chris Harris and Cameron Redpath – 12 members of the England squad also kneeled before the Dark Blues’ 11-6 win.
But that was not repeated at this weekend’s other two Guinness Six Nations fixtures – Italy v France and Wales v Ireland – where players from all four teams remained standing.
The SRU is planning to hold another “moment of reflection” when Scotland host Wales next Saturday, but Townsend said it has been left “100 per cent” to his players to decide if they will make any further gesture.
He told BBC Radio Scotland: “We obviously stand against any racism and discrimination in our sport.”
I don’t think it’s right that if you don’t take the knee you are some how against anti racism, making you racist? It’s a bit of an odd one.
I also have to question when headlines and news reports “back lash” what exactly is that? Did they find a tweet from a couple of people and that’s deemed a “backlash” media reports it, now the Scottish Rugby have to comment on it etc.
@Ally Mc Culladgh:Well said, I agree with you 100%
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Ironically some of the non white English players didnt kneel. Vunipola and Lawes are staunch advocates against it. It doesnt make them racist. They just want their sport to be free from politics.
Fair play to them, BLM is a complete farce anyway..
@Asid: go back to tweeting about trump
@Asid: I gather you’re not impacted by racism, otherwise you might have a different opinion!
Stop with the.snowflake carry on, people are entitled to their own oppionions.
@Con Cussed: You should not be allowed to comment with your anonymous title
@VinnoH: LOL and you should? A little bit of double standards me thinks?
@Con Cussed: I am no the on all over this commentary LOL, #SNOWFLAKES are real people!
@Asid: Ireland is great little racist country… nice to see you keeping it that way
Thank God,get rid of that meaningless bullsxxt
While I think ALL players should take the knee, I think it’s up to the players to make their own decision. If I support Colin Kaepernick’s freedom to take the knee, I can also support those not to. That’s democracy.
@Con Cussed: and I support BLM and staunchly against racism of any sorts.
@Con Cussed: I hope you don’t support the BLM organization
@thomas walsh: there’s no such thing, it’s not an organised grouping. The overall Black Lives Matter movement is a decentralized network of activists with no formal hierarchy (Wikipedia). It’s a figment of Donald Trumps supporters. But if it existed, yeah, I’d support their objectives of egalitarianism, fair wage, etc.
However, I’m also an anti-fascist, if that helps you. Neither do I agree or support Russia, China, Turkey or Myanmar (and many other) regimes who repress their people.
@Con Cussed: you should not be allowed on anything under this fake ID
@Con Cussed: again you farce, stop your comments,.with your fake ID
@Con Cussed: not true sir. It’s very easy. Google BLM, and the first thing that pops up is the BLM organization. All their demands are a communists wish list. Also I’m not a Donald Trump fan just very anti communism.
@thomas walsh: There’s very little difference between fascism and communism, just the label. Neither respect human rights.
@Con Cussed: But there is a BLM organization, which you said there wasn’t. And that organization is very communist
@thomas walsh: in what way is BLM Communist? Wouldn’t they have to be a political party to be Communist?
@Con Cussed: there’s actually a huge difference Con.. like opposite sides of the spectrum
@PScald: they are opposite sides but their tools are much the same. Denying human rights to their people, rigged voting (manual or otherwise), right of opinions repressed, detention without trial, excessive punishment (hard labour) for disagreeing with them, slave labour, pogroms, endemic racism, homophobia, the list goes on.
@Con Cussed: communism is a system based around a theory of economic equality and advocates for a classless society, fascism is a nationalistic, top-down system with rigid class roles that is ruled by an all-powerful dictator. While I don’t disagree that alot of examples of communism has plummeted into authoritarianism, it’s goals are are completely seperate from fascism as fascism is authoritarian from conception
Not taking the knee doesn’t make a person racist same a taking it doesn’t make them not a racist. This mob mentality of trying to bully people into doing it has gone too far. Headline news every time a team r player doesn’t do it. Everyone should b free to decide themselves without scrutiny. Of corse racism is wrong but for how long will players take the knee cos racism will never be completely eradicated.
As they would in Ireland, begrudging Scotland football fans made a big deal out of it to demean the successes of the rugby team. Despite “the knee” not being a thing in rugby
@Sam Murray: Scotland played amazingly yesterday! Great result for rugby.
@Sam Murray: it’s a « thing » everywhere racism occurs!
@Con Cussed: ✋stop stop you fake
@Con Cussed: stop fake news
Taking a knee doesn’t automatically make you anti racist. A person could be the biggest bigot around and get plaudits for taking a knee. Likewise you could be a good person who abhors racism and disagree with taking the knee and get slated for it. What’s the right thing to do?
Don’t do it
Really sends out a worrying message if half the players can’t even be bothered, or even worse disagree with the gesture.
@Caleb: the didnt express any disagreement: “STAND against racism & discrimination” – they took part and STOOD in reflection & in support of the initiative !!
@The 42, are allowing commentary by people using obviously fake handles
@VinnoH: Trump lost the election! Get over it.
It says a lot if you have a chance to make a stand against racism and show solidarity to people who are impacted by it ,yet choose not too. But you have that right.
@Harry Fanning: who on the pitch chose not to “STAND against racism & Discrimination”? I saw 46 players expressing their support
Clue is in the title of the reflection “STAND” against racism!!
@BMJF: you know the word “stand” is a verb and a noun right? Like you can stand for election while sitting in a wheelchair
You should not hve to take the knee if you don’t want 2 they should not b a thing as racism if u don’t like a person should b for some reason just not colour or religion or if u don’t like a soccer player should b because the way he plays or his skills not his colour or race