#BLM: Pro14's plans for the campaign

NEWS: Just a week after the ‘Rugby against Racism’ slogan took centre stage of the Premiership competition, Pro14 has revealed how they will tackle the campaign.

The organisers revealed that they will address two major issues, Covid-19 and Racism, that sport and society are facing.

“At each game, a moment’s silence will be observed to mark the loss of life suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic and to honour those who have worked on the frontline to protect us,” the statement said.

“After this, a ‘Unity Moment’ will be observed to demonstrate that rugby stands united against racism and to emphasise the game’s core values of solidarity and respect,”

#ICYMI: “What I saw in terms of that movement was not aligned with what I believe in”#Rugby #StrongerTogether #Covid_19 #BLMhttps://t.co/jdlYmUl1bJ

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) August 21, 2020

PRO14 officials will be hoping their weekend restart of the delayed 2019/20 campaign won’t be subjected to the same level of scrutiny that happened in last weekend’s Premiership regarding its approach to racism.

Much of the commentary following the rugby restart in England focused on which players decided not to take a knee, with emphasis especially on the eight South Africans at Sale who opted to stand in the pre-match moment prior to their game at Harlequins.

Similar to the Premiership, the Pro14 organisers left it up to its clubs to decide what they were going to do to raise awareness about its new Rugby Against Racism campaign.

“Players will stand in a circular formation and during this time they are free to express themselves in a manner they deem appropriate.

“This Unity Moment will underline the message of Rugby Against Racism across the territories that encompass the PRO14,”

 

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The backlash to the minister was a passionate response from Renaldo Bothma, the former Harlequins flank. Bothma’s response came after Sale director of Rugby Steve Diamond dismissed the fallout as a “storm in a teacup”. The South Africa-born Namibia international Bothma offered a fiery response on social media. “I will never take a knee to anyone else than GOD!” he said on his Twitter account. “Where are all these ministers when we need to take a knee for farm murders in South Africa and take action against corruption? We all can decide what we want to do! NOBODY HAS ANY RIGHT TO FORCE SOMEONE TO GO ON THEIR KNEES!” The reaction of Bothma, who left Quins earlier this year, offered a brief insight into the complicated political backdrop and what is perhaps motivating the players to take this stance.

A post shared by Rugby 365 (@rugby365com) on Aug 21, 2020 at 12:30am PDT

*READ full statement below…

STATEMENT: RUGBY AGAINST RACISM

This weekend ahead of the Guinness PRO14 restart games two occurrences will precede the kick-off.

At each game a moment’s silence will be observed to mark the loss of life suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic and to honour those who have worked on the frontline to protect us.

After this a ‘Unity Moment’ will be observed to demonstrate that rugby stands united against racism and to emphasise the game’s core values of solidarity and respect. Players will stand in a circular formation and during this time they are free to express themselves in a manner they deem appropriate.

This Unity Moment will underline the message of Rugby Against Racism across the territories that encompass the Guinness PRO14.

Source: Pro14 & Rugbypass