Just how many black kids are there in Leeds? Not that many, and are there many amateur clubs in areas like Chapy and Harehills?

I get your point but it's more about the areas players are coming from and not their colour. My kids are mixed so it is offensive that you don't class them as black. They are, but they're also white.

And don't say coloured! It's deemed derogatory.

For the record, I'm from Kirkstall.

not sure how it's offensive.it was a genuine question. I'd add why Asians dont seem to play either code or football really. do they just love cricket?

Well that's my point Charlie. What is being done in these areas when there so much untapped potential there.

Choose to take it that way Damo but believe me it's not meant in that way

The point I'm making is that black kids are not seemingly coming thru for whatever reason, a question I don't have an answer for and would like to know as I find it a real shame.

I want to see more playing the game as they have the potential to offer a lot to the sport as people like Drummond, Hanley and Offiah have done in the past.

I think you need to differentiate between British born and actual immigrant families. Across the country you find more British born are actually out of the rugby league heartlands. For the immigrants they tend to come from a strong football fantasy with little knowledge on rugby. That is one reason why there isn’t as many involved.

The second reason is just the way our so called diverse country works. You tend to see races stick together, and form areas of their own. These areas in the main do not have junior rugby set ups as there isn’t a demand, and usually as it is normally areas of low income, there isn’t the budgets to set up,

Let me just say that I'm not part of the PC brigade and aren't saying that Matty is being racist. But his comments insinuate that people of a mixed background aren't classed as black. Society is changing and you see more and more mixed couples, of which I'm one. My kids have darker skin than their 'white' mates and lighter than 'black' friends, but that doesn't define them or segregate them from a group. Talk of "we need more from this ethnicity etc" frustrates me (like the talk in football of black managers) because it comes down to ability. More needs to be done in all areas to encourage the identification and development of ability. Do Jason Robinson, Kallum Watkins, JJB, Alan Hunte have less athletic ability because they're mixed? No! The problem with the game lies more with getting youngsters from all backgrounds involves

Well said.

Damo think your taking my comments totally the wrong way unfortunately. The reason I said don't include half castes is because we have many fantastic half castes players in our game and the sport is all the better for it. Look at Watkins at Leeds as a prime example.

Half caste lads are playing RL and coming thru and nobody is more pleased to see that than me.

My comments are not racist in anyway I want to see the England team have another Hanley, Powell, Offiah, Nickle, Drummond as it used to have. The potential is huge and we need to tap into it. Why aren't they coming through?

I bet in Super League there are less than 10 playing and that cannot be right.

But isn't the point that in this day and age we shouldn't even be having conversations about race? The issue is surely making RL available to all communities, and I mean that in a geographical sense and not ethnic as all parts of Leeds are populated with people from all different heritage. If we make RL available more to communities in the centre and north of Leeds then we'll get players coming through of all backgrounds and the sport, and our small part of the world, will be all the better for it.

Jeez, someone tell this guy to give it up. You cant say half-caste. Its offensive.

I'm really not!!

Just step back, look at what you've said and the reaction it's caused. You're saying that you want to see more black players. Others, and me, are saying that the colour of the player is irrespective. The game needs to getting more youngsters involved full stop.

You're failing to acknowledge that you're segregating people because you don't consider them to be out and out black. That's ridiculous!!!

My parents are both black Jamicans but I've always been told that I'm British and my colour has nothing to do with that. Its the same for my kids!!

That's the last I'll say because I honestly don't think you'll accept you've made a mistake in what you've said

Jesus wept this is all wrong on so many levels, I don't know where to start, it's like an excerpt from the film get out.

I do not think he gets it on any level, not sure it's deliberate and he's digging his hells in, or just generally ignorant, probably thinks it's PC gone mad, or "Snowflakes" but hopefully he has just tried to make a point very badly.

‘Not being racist, but these dark lads are fast! Is it all the running from the police they do?’

As my 1st post said I understand why people would take it the way people have but I genuinely do not mean it the way people have taken it.

If people take it offensively I apologise.

Well as a start stop using the terms 'half-caste' and 'coloured'! Even when some one pointed out the offence this might cause, you still used the terms again in your next post.

The world has gone mad.

These days if you say you’re English you’ll be arrested and thrown in jail, these days.

If you feel you need to start a post with 'I genuinely don't want this to sound how it may sound to some' doesn't that tell you that you know it needs more consideration? I'm all for people being frank and honest, and have little time for people who look for offence in posts or comments when it isn't there, but you don't need to be a snowflake to feel that some of the language floating about on this thread should be left in the 1950's. I know we're all children of our time, but there are some areas where we need to make sure we change our language and the way we use it - I don't believe Marty's sentiment in the first post was racist, but the pervading use of words which are casually racist is one reason why racism remains an issue in society.

I wonder what Major Ballard Berkeley with think of this thread?

The world has gone mad for many reasons, trying to rid it of casual racism isn’t one of those reasons.

7 Rhinos players in England Academy squad https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2018/12/04/ ... choolboys/

7 Rhinos players in England Academy squad https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2018/12/04/ ... choolboys/

looking forwards to the Leeds test. been watching these games years. always great to watch

Cant wait tad ill be there.