The Ospreys showed their support for an anti-racism initiative this week, as players made a guest appearance at an event for the organisation 'Show Racism the Red Card'.
Richard Hibbard, Barry Davies and Lyndon Bateman represented the Ospreys at the event, which was held at the Club’s home ground, the Liberty Stadium. In attendance were a number of Primary school classes from across Ospreylia, whose pupils grilled the Ospreys players on their experiences of racism both on and off the rugby pitch.
‘Show Racism the Red Card’ aims to get the message across that racism is unacceptable, and to help increase the number of young people from ethnic minority communities participating in sports.
Ospreys player Lyndon Bateman, said:
"We're fortunate at the Ospreys, and as rugby players in general, that we do not experience as much racism as tends to be the case in some of the other high profile sports. However, of course on occasion everyone comes up against some form of prejudice, whether it's against your nationality, religion or skin colour.
“Organisations such as Show Racism the Red Card do a fantastic job in highlighting the issues of racism and educating children in what's right and wrong, both in sport and in people's day-to-day lives, so we feel it's important as Ospreys to support this campaign."
The Ospreys were the first Welsh rugby region to support Show Racism the Red Card in December 2008, where a new anti-racism poster was officially launched to show the Ospreys’ support for the cause.
Show Racism the Red Card began in England in 1996 and was started up in Wales in 2005. Project worker Sunil Patel said he experienced racism when he was younger and that encouraged him to get involved in the campaign.