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Ashton Hewitt's anti-racism message has reached new heights with PRO14 takeover
Dragons player Ashton Hewitt has received widespread support for his PRO14 article exposing racism that is prevalent in rugby and society as a whole. A first-person piece by the winger will appear in all Guinness PRO14 programmes this weekend and next to amplify the message of Rugby Against Racism.
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Being a person of Welsh and Jamaican heritage, he wrote about what ‘black lives matter’ means to him, his experience of racism growing up and the positivity and progress that has come from speaking out and starting these conversations.
The online response to his article has been hugely positive, as neither Hewitt nor the Dragons have shirked away from a sensitive subject. In the message, he addressed the support he has received in the past online, although it has not been without abuse, which unfortunately comes with the territory on social media.
He said: “While it’s not always easy to be confronted with opinions you do not agree with, as well as the overwhelming abuse dished out by Twitter trolls, I’m pleased to be able to say that the positivity that has come as a result of speaking out about racism outweighs the negativity.
“Furthermore, I can’t express how encouraging the support from fans has been. It has truly shown how great the game of rugby is, with it not only being Dragons fans sending me positive messages and shutting down the trolls of Twitter in my defence but rugby fans from all over (although some have wished for a bad performance when playing their team!).”
? Why It Matters: @Ashton_Hewitt
?? Link – https://t.co/8155n6CWOh
#RugbyAgainstRacism pic.twitter.com/Uwp0kMLJh6— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 2, 2020
The 25-year-old has been commended for helping expose the racism he and others have faced, which he explained “has come as a shock to many of the people in the rugby community”. This lack of knowledge of what people in Hewitt’s position experience is perhaps why this article has been deemed so pivotal.
PRO14 CEO Martin Anayi was quick to praise a “role model” like Hewitt in sharing this message. He said: “Racism and discrimination have no part in our game, or in our society, and we must actively push and strive for a fully equal playing field in everything we do.
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“I’d like to thank him for his drive and passion, indeed for challenging us to do better and encourage everyone to take a few minutes over the weekend to read what he has to say.”
Ashton called out the PRO14 some weeks ago on Twitter after noticing that the unity moment which had happened prior to the matches when the league restarted in August was discontinued.
When you ask, who are your first black heroes, in future years don’t be surprised if many more name you again. Many people have just not even thought about the experiences you and many others have endured. I loved this article.
Please keep talking— CoDAtim (@codatim) October 2, 2020
Nice work Ashton. You have support of the vast majority of Welsh rugby fans, a number that will only grow if you keep speaking and talking as eloquently as this.
— Michael ??????? ?? (@welshboymick) October 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/jonnarbett/status/1311982677650800643
It is important we are all willing to speak about sensitive topics as we push towards a fairer society. There is no reason not to speak & something we should all want to do. Its great to see someone with the ability to speak to such a big audience using that ability so wisely.
— Phil Scully (@philscully) October 2, 2020
Well done @ashton_hewitt . Please take a moment to read this, it is insightful, honest and informative. It’s made me reflect and think about the levels of ignorance that exist still today.
Speaking truth to power is a brave thing to do, respect! https://t.co/s9BsWcxorl
— David Buttress (@davidjusteat) October 2, 2020
If you don’t follow @ashton_hewitt i recommend you do. A 1st hand view of the way people are treated when they stand up for something bigger than themselves. Keep fighting the good fight. Also if you think rugby has some moral high ground look at the comments he gets. https://t.co/yR0jJcCoql
— Karl Cross (@topoftheprops) October 2, 2020
Excellent article Ashton: “I’d like to think that most would agree to taking a stand against racism. I’d really love, and appreciate, if everybody just asked questions and gave a little time to learn a bit more about the issues and the ways in which they can be tackled.” https://t.co/7QdlR80NmW
— Carolyn Hitt (@carolyn_hitt) October 2, 2020
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Comments on RugbyPass
I think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to comments