More than fifty years ago, a revolutionary rugby club burst onto the scene in Berkshire, injecting a vibrant new energy and a dazzling style of play that would inspire generations of Black players.
Reading West Indians RUFC wasn't just a team; it was a cultural phenomenon that brought an electrifying blend of flair and speed to the sport, becoming a vital hub for individuals of African and Caribbean heritage. Founded in the 1970s by Joe Bell and Kenmore Hinds, both with connections to the Redingensians club, this new venture quickly transformed into a breeding ground for exceptional national talent.
Lorin Bozkurt of Radio Berkshire, accompanied by Joe Bell and former player Wayne Foncette, recently revisited the historic ground on Old Bath Road in Sonning, the very place where this remarkable story began. Bell shared that in the early 1970s, while juggling apprenticeships at Adwest in Reading, they played local Sunday rugby. "The fire brigade had a side but they were getting beat all the time and they didn't have enough fast players so they decided to invite us to play with them and that's when we decided to start our own club," Bell recounted. But here's where it gets challenging... The nascent club grappled with significant hurdles, primarily a shortage of players.
"It was very difficult," Bell admitted. "We'd drive down on the Oxford Road and I always used to have about two pairs of boots in my car and some shorts, just in case I see another black person and would say: 'Have you played rugby? Would you like to? Get in the car'. We used to do things like that." This proactive, almost nomadic, recruitment strategy highlights the dedication and passion of those early pioneers.
From these humble, grassroots beginnings, Reading West Indians RUFC officially became a member of the Rugby Football Union by the 1975/76 season. Their influence extended far beyond Berkshire, culminating in a triumphant Caribbean tour in 1989. This memorable expedition saw a touring party of over 60 members engage in matches across Trinidad and Barbados, a testament to the club's growing stature and reach.
Wayne Foncette joined the ranks of Reading West Indians RUFC in the early 1980s, making a transition from football. "I used to, at the beginning, play football on a Saturday, football on a Sunday morning, stay in my kit and then come and play rugby in the afternoon," he explained. "That's how a lot of players joined at the beginning, they would come along, watch and then go, 'you guys are having fun'." This infectious enthusiasm and the sheer enjoyment of the game were clearly powerful magnets.
By the early 1980s, Foncette noted, players were "travelling from everywhere" to be a part of their dynamic squad. "We were then known as players who would come from Harlequins or Saracens or Bath so we ended up playing with that calibre of players, which ultimately ended up with a lot of Nigerian boys then getting involved. So from out of that, in the early '90s, London Nigerians were established." This ripple effect demonstrates the profound impact Reading West Indians RUFC had on the wider rugby landscape.
And this is the part most people miss... A particularly exhilarating moment for Foncette occurred when Reading West Indians were invited to play a warm-up match against the London Maoris, coinciding with a major international fixture between New Zealand and Australia. "They'd heard about our style and thought it'd be great," Foncette recalled. The atmosphere was electric, with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 spectators in attendance. "We both went hell for leather because we're all big boys and we're all playing open rugby. They wouldn't kick it, we wouldn't kick it. I think we won the game something like 43-38." The scoreline itself speaks to a thrilling, attacking game. "But most enjoyable was the fact that when the whistle blew at the end of the game - bear in mind we were the warm-up act - the crowd stood up on their feet and gave us, both teams, a standing ovation." This is a powerful endorsement of their captivating style.
For Joe Bell, the true magic of Sunday rugby lay in the freedom to express themselves. "If you played on a Saturday, especially being a West Indian, we were quite restricted in what we could do on a pitch," he stated. "It was all regimented and we had talent but we couldn't express that because they wanted to put us in a category all the time. So when we started playing on Sunday, everyone could express themselves. They could be who they want to be. They could show off their talent with someone saying, 'you can't do this, you can't do that'." This sentiment raises a crucial question: Was the structured, often rigid, Saturday game inadvertently stifling the natural talent and creativity of players from diverse backgrounds? Bell concluded, "Sunday rugby, says Bells, 'is and was a great feeling'."
What are your thoughts on how sporting cultures can either embrace or suppress individual expression? Do you believe that the freedom to play with flair, as exemplified by Reading West Indians RUFC, is more crucial for player development and enjoyment than strict adherence to traditional tactics? Share your opinions below!
