Throughout the month of October, Cardiff Rugby will be celebrating the contributions of notable players with African and Caribbean heritage who have pulled on the famous Blue & Black jersey.

Each year in the UK, BHM is used as an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Black people to British society and beyond. This year the focus is on “Reclaiming Narratives,” marking a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture

At Cardiff Rugby we pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse and welcoming club for all people of all backgrounds. We remain fiercely committed to championing equality and opportunities for all, while supporting societal change.

We begin this series with Charles Lewis, who is believed to be the first black player to play for Cardiff.

Lewis, a centre, was the product of a short-lived club based in the docks named Grange Stars.

After playing for a District XV, he likely came to the attention of, and joined, Cardiff. He played for the Blue & Blacks first in 1899 and represented both the First XV and Rags.

Unfortunately no team photos including Lewis exist, but newspaper reports at the time confirm his heritage, and he remains the first known black player to feature for the club.

There is no doubt however, that Lewis was a trailblazer and led the way for numerous players with African or Caribbean heritage to represent and star for Cardiff in the amateur, professional and post-2003 eras.