I’VE just read Brendan Gallagher’s column about John Coker, a black pioneer for rugby union who played for Harlequins in the 1960s.
Undoubtedly, since Jimmy Peters in 1908 there were other black players who shone – in particular a number who played for Saracens from the late 1950s to the mid 1980s.
I can remember when Saracens came to Kingsholm in March, every other season, fielding at least six black players in their ranks, and who would appear for Middlesex in the County Championship.
The first black player to play for Gloucester was Derek Morgan. Derek was a specialist ...