Life in Sport
Collin Osbourne
Born in St. Kitts West Indies, Collin emigrated to Birmingham at 6 years old. Having played rugby at school, club and divisional level in the amateur era, Collin’s background as a Physical Education graduate positioned him to be able to transition into life as a professional coach. Collin has held roles including Technical Director, Ghana Rugby; Director of Coaching, Zimbabwe Rugby Union and was the 1st black coach to win the Premiership with Harlequins. He is currently Head Coach at Wimbledon RFC, in the London and South East Premier League.
Floyd Steadman
One of the few black players in English club rugby, Floyd made history when he was named as the first black top flight rugby captain, for Saracens, at the age of 23. He played a leading role in the club’s progress during the 1980s. After retiring from rugby, he emerged as an inspiring teacher and headmaster, having a positive impact on many, many young lives. With the Black Lives Matter movement once again highlighting racial inequalities, Floyd has spent time visiting schools to talk and educate about unconscious bias. In the new year’s honours list Floyd has received an OBE for services to Rugby Union Football, to Education and to Charity.
Jason Robinson
A rugby legend, in both codes – League and Union. Jason played in 3 world cup finals, scoring England’s only try in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup in Sydney, Australia. Jason’s League career totalled 281 games, scoring an incredible 171 tries. He represented England, Great Britain and the British Lions. Jason switched codes and joined Sale Sharks in 2000, going on to play 159 games for Sale, scoring 248 points. As well as England honours, Jason received 5 caps for the British and Irish Lions. He was awarded the MBE for his role in the 2003 World Cup and the OBE for services to Rugby in 2008. Jason also looks after active community programmes to help well-being of young people in socio-economically deprived areas.
Laura Kapo
“Kapo” as she is known, is an absolute giant of Women’s Rugby – having made nearly 400 match appearances for Richmond FC. Laura is never afraid to be the voice of honesty and advocacy for the women’s game, battling and overcoming significant personal adversity – Laura, is a true example of perseverance, resilience, and determination. Often providing the administrate back bone withing the rugby environments, she is a confident and competent Chairwoman and now sits on the RFU Independent Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Group
Maggie Alphonsi
Maggie Alphonsi is one of the faces of international women’s rugby – she represented her country an impressive 74 times, scored 28 tries, won a World Cup and helped England win a record breaking seven consecutive Six Nations crowns. Since retiring, Maggie has continue being an inspiration and in 2015 became the first ever former female player to commentate on men’s international rugby when she was signed up by ITV for the Rugby World Cup. Maggie continues to work with ITV Sport, Sky Sports and the BBC, as well as writing for the Telegraph and sits on the RFU Council.
Maxine Edwards
Maxine Edwards won 45 caps throughout her 25-year rugby career, juggling work and parenting with a demanding training schedule. Having studied at the University of Greenwich and worked as a business analyst, she was qualifying as a teacher when named as the new captain of the England women’s team and leading them out for the first-ever international women’s match at Twickenham Stadium. A veteran of three Rugby World Cups, she was awarded an MBE in 2010 for services to rugby.
Paul Hull
Paul served in the RAF before becoming a Bristol Rugby legend – his playing career spanning the amateur and professional era, making 289 first team appearances for the club. He was capped four times and toured South Africa with England in 1994, where he was introduced to President Nelson Mandela. He became the first British black person to be a Head Coach in the Premiership, followed by a role as Chief Scout and a spell coaching the England Saxons. He is currently the RFU’s Head of Professional Game Match Officials.
Paula George
Georgie – as she is known to everyone – grew up in a small village near Bridgend, one of two non-white kids in a school of 1600. She went from there, via playing Netball for Wales, to become the face of the English women’s game, captaining both Wasps and England. A hard-tackling, hard-working, deeply passionate full back, she was a trail-blazer who set standards. She was England’s first black captain and earned 75 caps, 30 of them as captain. She was the first woman to be on the cover of Rugby World magazine, in 2002. After playing she went on to be a photographer and videographer, working in rugby. A recent project being a story-telling project bringing together legends from the past history of the women’s game with their current day equivalents to meet and share stories with one another.
