Black flanker poised to make rugby mark

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 36

Black flanker poised to make rugby mark

NZPA staff correspondent London As black players make , an increasing impression on the England soccer team, a 21-year-old Nigerian-born . flanker, Francis Emeruwa, appears poised to make his mark on English rugby. The six foot three inch Emeruwa was named yesterday in the England B side to play Ireland B on December 4 and a combination of factors make it possible that this season he could become only the second black player to don the white English jersey. A Jamaican-born first five-eighths, James “Darkie” Peters, was the first black to , earn that distinction when he played five internationals between 1906 and 1908. Many British rugby commentators believe that Emeruwa, who is studying chemistry at Manchester University, is well equipped to follow in Peters’, steps. The burly flanker first shot into serious, contention tor England honours when he toured Japan and Hong Kong

recently with the English students side. The English Rugby Union’s assistant technical administrator, Mr Ron.Tennick, is one who believes that on the basis of his performances in the far east, Emeruwa is ready to play for England. “In every respect he was a man among the lads. He chased everything, foraged for everything and his tackling’was devastating. “He has real pace and granite-like strength to withstand defence which is always totally committed and usually comprehensive,” he said. - ,• ■ , ■ Emeruwa, who went to Britain 17 years ago, shies away from publicity and is reluctant to talk about his prospects of playing for England: “The thing is, I don’t want to blow my own trumpet,” he said recently. But the English media and, in particular, the top-selling magazine, “Rugby. World,” -which chose him as one of 12 ■players expected to make < their. ,mark this season; have ensured that Emeruwa has been getting a fair dose of .. publicity.

David Norrie wrote of him in “Rugby World”: “While it may be premature to offer him as a serious pretender for the role as England’s first black international in modern times, he clearly has the basic talent. ■

“Everywhere Emeruwa’s gone, he has impressed as much with his personality as his rugby skills; and that could be just as important a factor if he’s really serious about going all the way.” Emeruwa’s chances of making it all the way even this season have been enhanced by a spate of injuries to the already capped flankers , who stand in his path. Peter Winterbottom and David Cooke are both sidelined and the former faces a testing task to show the selectors that he has recovered from a hernia operation and will be fit to play England’s first international against France on January 15 A good display against the Irish at Belfast on December 4 could put Emeruwa into the English trial ■ which will be held on December. 19.