Rugby League Challenge Cup Semi-Finals

CORAL CHALLENGE CUP
SEMI FINALS 2020
RUGBY LEAGUE VERSUS DISCRIMINATION
The Rugby Football League has
published a sport-wide action
plan to make Rugby League a
truly inclusive sport by tackling
discrimination and breaking down
any barriers to involvement.
Rugby League versus Discrimination:
TACKLE IT sets out four strategic goals
and, crucially, the specific and measurable
actions that will be taken to achieve them.
Launched to coincide with the beginning
of Black History Month, TACKLE IT marks a
firm and tangible sport-wide commitment to
inclusion, diversity, and anti-discrimination,
which aims to:
1. widen the reach and impact of
Rugby League
2. diversify the game's talent
pool
3. improve the culture of
Rugby League
4. clarify processes,
instil confidence in and
encourage reporting
of discrimination,
and ensure that
appropriate sanctions
are in place.
The goals and actions
support all the protected
characteristics (in the
Equality Act 2010):
age; disability; gender
reassignment; marriage
and civil partnership;
pregnancy and
maternity; race; religion
or belief; sex; and sexual
orientation. With a focus
on areas requiring
particular support at
specific times.
Dr Rimla Akhtar
MBE
The plan includes actions on player and
coach recruitment and development, talent
inclusion and progression, community
outreach and club development, as well as
on ensuring zero tolerance of all forms of
discrimination within the game.
Responsibility for delivering against the plan
rests with a wide range of organisations,
including the RFL, Super League (Europe),
professional and community clubs, RL Cares
and RLWC2021.
The RFL Inclusion and Diversity Advisory
Board will continue to advise on this work.
Board chair Dr Rimla Akhtar MBE, an RFL
Non-Executive Director, says:
“Rugby League has an opportunity now to
become a genuinely anti-racist and antidiscrimination
sport.
“In our 125th year we are still not fully
representative of our communities. Across
all aspects of the game we continue to
miss out on immense talent, passion, skills,
and experience, as well as opportunities
to connect, learn, grow, and expand. I
am confident in our ability to challenge
ourselves and to change.
“Since the game’s restart in August, and
even during lockdown, we have seen how
Rugby League is a powerful force for good,
how it has such a deep connection with
so many communities, and how it can be
an anti-racism campaigning sport. This
is a clear focus and it sits alongside our
continued work on the gender balance in our
sport and LGBQT and disability inclusion.”
RFL Chief Executive, Ralph Rimmer, says:
“This is an action plan by the game, for
the game. It is the result of listening and
learning, and a great deal of hard work
involving people from across the sport.
We have listened to the lived experience
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