James Peters

Who was James Peters?

James Peters was an English rugby union player and, later, a rugby league player. He is notable as the first black man to play rugby union for England. He was also known as "Darkie Peters".

James Peters's Jamaican father, George, had been mauled to death in a training cage by lions. His mother was Hannah Gough from Wem in Shropshire. He found himself in Fegan's orphanage in Southwark and the Little Wanderers' Home in Greenwich. Greenwich Admirals Rugby League Club now celebrate Peters' life with an annual challenge game.

Peters worked in printing and his trade brought him to Bristol, where he played for Bristol Rugby Club. Peters then moved on to Plymouth.

He played rugby union for Devon, and in 1906 was to play the South Africans in front of 20,000 fans at the Plymouth County ground. However, tourists had belatedly noticed Peters' colour and were seething at playing with a black man. Initially, they refused to play but eventually the South African High Commissioner, who feared a riot if the game was cancelled, persuaded the team to play.