Victor Ubogu

Victor Ubogu

For me, rugby was just one of those things that had to be taken up at school. Rugby was the main winter sport, as opposed to football, and I didn't have any choice really.

If I wanted to be 'one of the lads' then I had to get with it!!

Before I came to Bath, when I lived in Nigeria, I'd never heard of rugby!!

Playing rugby, I've not experienced discrimination in an open way, but there is a feeling, you always have that. It's more of an underlying thing.

But you just have to overcome it by performing. You have to do your best - and be very good, which is why you get accepted.

Sometimes people can get your name wrong, but that's part of life. You get used to it. But that's often a language thing. If people haven't grown up with, or experienced my native tongue, then they might not be able to pronounce my name. Ubogu is a Bendel name, that's my heritage in Nigeria, but I grew up in Lagos, the capital. I think getting someone's name right is about education. But it is important to at least try, even if you fail, to make people feel comfortable.

Even now, some commentators get my name wrong! Some get it right, and some have their own particular way of saying it!

The first port of call, if someone is using language or names that you don't like, is to correct them. People generally just don't understand. You may see something and think its acceptable, when in fact it's not.

In the first instance, people may not know any better. If you don't correct them, people will just carry on, because they may think it's acceptable.

It's difficult to say whether race relations in Britain are improving, but I think with the younger generations it's getting better. But as more people get educated, that's when things will change.

Its all about familiarity and knowledge.