Wakefield Trinity coach Chris Chester says his players wanted more knowledge about the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement before deciding to take the knee prior to Super League matches.

Trinity’s players remained standing together while Wigan’s players took part in the symbolic act that shows support for the movement.

When asked about his team’s decision to stand, Chester explained: “We had a chat during the week; we were led by the captain (Jacob Miller) and we just felt that as a group we needed some education on what the Black Lives Matter movement is.

“That’s the reason we came up with what we did. I’ve been in dialogue with Alex Simmonds quite a bit over the last couple of days and we just felt we needed a bit more education on what it was about.

“It’s a decision supported by myself as a coach, (CEO) Michael Carter and the rest of the people at the club.”

Before the game, Wakefield released a statement saying that the club does not tolerate racism.

“Everyone at Wakefield Trinity fully supports all measures and messages devoted to improving equality, diversity and inclusion, and we will confront racism, not only in Rugby League but in society,” it said.

“How the players show that support before today’s match is down to personal choice. They should not be vilified for that personal choice.

“Wakefield Trinity endorses the important message that black lives matter. For us, this is about people, not politics

“The club will not tolerate any racism within its ranks, and the board, players and staff are totally united on that.”

I think the club/players have got this right. Well done to them all.

I've opened Dunkirk's post again so that it can be discussed. It should really be in the Politics, Covid and other stuff thread but as this is very much connected to Wakefield Trinity I might as well keep it separate.

To be clear, these are the rules of engagement....
[uAllowed[/u
Civil discussion about BLM, the Wakefield players actions at the Wigan game, and racism in rugby league

[uNot Allowed[/u
Sharing racist material
Calling another user racist
Making accusations that a particular club, player, owner, manager, mascot is racist or that a clubs supporters are racist
Personal comments about other posters

and please adhere to all the other AUP guidance.

If there is anything posted that concerns you, by all means hit the "Report" button and I'll take a look.

Well done PT.

Here's my slant on it as I said on the OT thread.......



So. if the players decided that - then as a person who has suffered from racism throughout my life by people from all walks of life, then that is fine by me and I totally support them and the club.

What I don't agree with is people who choose not to take the knee automatically being deemed racist or told to "educate themselves". It's not mandatory behaviour. I applaud wakefield's free thought.

Thank you PT. Can you tell me who, Alex Simmonds is, is he connected with Trinity, or the RFL/SL.

He's not officially linked to the RFL/SL as far as I know. He's just a media presenter/reporter.

It’s very simple, if you don’t call people racist or gammons you won’t have an issue. Clearly I’m delighted by what happened in fact I’ve never been prouder of my club. That said I get why others may have preferred we took the knee whilst others may feel uneasy that we have politicised the club even more than had we taken the knee.

It’s all about choice and POV until people start branding other people. Yes I know I’m guilty of it too an extent but only in response.

It’s also ludicrous, how does anyone posting on here know if someone is black? I mean in fairness they probably know I’m not but my wife might be.

For the record I’m a WASP.

However I am repulsed by the slave trade in all its forms throughout human history and although colonialism wasn’t all bad it’s a better world without it.

I’m not racist but I don’t agree with re-writing history and I believe BLM to be ghetto politics and identical to the EDL. That may not have been the original aim but it’s definitely been hijacked.

That is why I didn’t want us to bend the knee in what is now a meaningless gesture. I no more want us to support there aims than us to invite Tommy Robinson to a home game.

Sport can’t avoiding politics but it can avoid becoming political. That gesture by. 17 brave men should go down in history, it won’t because it doesn’t suit the current woke narrative that has infected the media.

I can’t find a single mention of it anywhere on mainstream media, I know RL is a small sport but all the same o find that a bit odd.

Just as people should be free not to take a knee, people should be free to take one and I do wonder to what degree Wakefield's approach was in response to, say, a determined expression of the views of club management - I find it hard to believe that nobody in the squad would choose to do it given a fully free choice.

It wasn't, and the implication is not fair.
The message from the club is that it was a decision from the whole group.
Wakefield have been clear that they are an equal opportunities club.

I don't see the big deal to be honest.
Some have decided that taking a knee is their way of drawing attention to BLM. It isn't the only way. Wakefield are doing it in a different way.

Reece Lyne has commented https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... rs-2937505

Reece Lyne has commented https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... rs-2937505

To me it is a bigger statement then mindlessly kneeling for fear of been called a racist. The unity on show between men of varying races and nationalities is a far more positive image to portray. Idiots may have jumped on it but that is their problem. It's clear what the squad were trying to do. I hadnt realised Fifita had kneeled so clearly had any of the other squad members wished to they were free to do so.

The team should be applauded for showing solidarity against racism in the way they thought was best. Equally, I had no issue if they did take the knee.

I can see why people might take their approach the wrong way though, especially when Wigan were kneeling.

The Big Dave thing is also being taken out of context. No one knows his intention.
In the past they have done that as a Christian prayer. Doesn't have to be the case that he went a different way to his team about BLM.

Unfortunately, it looks like the stance has attracted some new “fans”. https://twitter.com/rodbishop15/status/ ... 14784?s=21

Unfortunately, it looks like the stance has attracted some new “fans”. https://twitter.com/rodbishop15/status/ ... 14784?s=21

While I abhor any form of racism and agree with "taking the knee" as a way of showing support against racism I am proud of my club for the statement they made and the stance the players took.

Quote ="Willzay"Unfortunately, it looks like the stance has attracted some new “fans”. https://twitter.com/rodbishop15/status/ ... 14784?s=21'" The comments are embarrassing

Quote ="Willzay"Unfortunately, it looks like the stance has attracted some new “fans”. https://twitter.com/rodbishop15/status/ ... 14784?s=21'" The comments are embarrassing

Well done to the players for taking a common sense view to this issue.
Well done to the club for not putting any pressure on players to take the knee.
I too hate racism of any form and I abhor what our ancestors did regarding slavery, but as it was all a little before my time fail to see what I personally can do about it now, except express regret for what WAS done generations ago, (concerning the UK) and express disgust that it still does go on in some parts of the world.

Surely actions matter more than gestures.
What is the point of "taking the knee" if you have any sympathy with racist actions whilst not "taking the knee" but living a non racist life is very much to be applauded.
"taking the knee" has become part of our current gesture politics and so far hasn't achieved anything tangible. So, at what point in the future will people decide that a gesture is pointless unless backed by positive action and if the positive action takes place, the gesture becomes pointless.
In reality, racism in some form or other will be endemic in society for ever. When do we decide that not "taking the knee" would be possible?

Tbh what I find more unbelievable is that whole teams from every other club did, there’s a curious form of facism inherent to this and many ways to express support anti racism other than this.

I actually don’t believe in defunding the police, advocating self policing by the community , restitution for historic inequities etc. so find it very strange that people who would suffer greatly - eg 99 percent of the UK population.

And before anyone gets on their high horse my grandfather was enslaved by bevan from 1939 to 1948, moved from his home and family with his only alternative to going being jail, if we are talking about colour we have suffered and seen significant racism both deliberate and institutionally.

For all of that I believe in free speech and universal and even application of the law

Well said

Yet strangely you don’t find it strange tha 17 players do take the knee. Incredible double standard and a disgusting attempt to slur individuals. Why on earth would the club be bothered either way, MC has never shown any political bias either way. Really poor of you.

Quote ="Kirmudgeonly"I actually don’t believe in defunding the police, '" Almost anyone who took any time to look at what that actually means in its American context would support it - it means removing from Police the budgets which require them to deal with mental health, opiods and reallocating that budget to people who can actually deal with them (like in the UK). It would also stop them wasting money on the sort of ridiculousely inappropriate military equipment that American police forces love to unveil - https://twitter.com/JBaker_WTOV/status/ ... 3510242308 In a UK context defund the Police is largely meaningless.

Quote ="Kirmudgeonly"I actually don’t believe in defunding the police, '" Almost anyone who took any time to look at what that actually means in its American context would support it - it means removing from Police the budgets which require them to deal with mental health, opiods and reallocating that budget to people who can actually deal with them (like in the UK). It would also stop them wasting money on the sort of ridiculousely inappropriate military equipment that American police forces love to unveil - https://twitter.com/JBaker_WTOV/status/ ... 3510242308 In a UK context defund the Police is largely meaningless.

Quote ="The Ghost of '99"Almost anyone who took any time to look at what that actually means in its American context would support it - it means removing from Police the budgets which require them to deal with mental health, opiods and reallocating that budget to people who can actually deal with them (like in the UK). It would also stop them wasting money on the sort of ridiculousely inappropriate military equipment that American police forces love to unveil - https://twitter.com/JBaker_WTOV/status/ ... 3510242308 In a UK context defund the Police is largely meaningless.'" So why take the knee to support it ? And as regards wasting money by government I ll happily take the knee to that Incidentally that which you quote is the most recent iteration of what defunding the police now means , if you go back to pre George floyd - and public backlash it was very specifically defund the police. If you look what’s happened in Philadelphia and Chicago that’s worked really really well

Quote ="The Ghost of '99"Almost anyone who took any time to look at what that actually means in its American context would support it - it means removing from Police the budgets which require them to deal with mental health, opiods and reallocating that budget to people who can actually deal with them (like in the UK). It would also stop them wasting money on the sort of ridiculousely inappropriate military equipment that American police forces love to unveil - https://twitter.com/JBaker_WTOV/status/ ... 3510242308 In a UK context defund the Police is largely meaningless.'" So why take the knee to support it ? And as regards wasting money by government I ll happily take the knee to that Incidentally that which you quote is the most recent iteration of what defunding the police now means , if you go back to pre George floyd - and public backlash it was very specifically defund the police. If you look what’s happened in Philadelphia and Chicago that’s worked really really well

I felt really proud of the players and the club yesterday seeing their unity in standing together whilst also being given the freedom to kneel should they wish to. I thought the statement condemning all forms of racism and prejudice was very powerful too. I think the BLM movement is political and to see individuals shamed and bullied when they don't conform to the knee is awful. Well done Trinity.

A credit to your club.

Hopefully the other clubs can follow your lead.

The rugby league and Super league knew this would be divisive, so I'd question why they went along with it. Was it purposely to cause division? Or was their hand forced by higher ups?