NOTE TO USERS The original manuscript received by UMl contains pages with indistinct and slanted print. Pages were microfilmed as received. This reproduction is the best copy available ABORIGINALITY AND RUGBY LEAGUE IN AUSTRALIA: AN E,WLORATORY STUDY OF IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION AND PROFESSIONAL SPORT by Darren John Godwell A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research through the Department of Kinesiology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Hurnan Kinetics at the University of Windsor Windsor. Ontario, Canada 1997 O Darren John Godwell National Libmry Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Senlices services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. nie Wellington OttawaON KIAW OttawaON K1A ON4 canada canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfoq vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfichelnlm. de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fkom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT The purpose of this exploratory study was to better understand the relationship between Rugby League and Aboriginality . ïhe prevalence of Aborigines within the ranks of professional Rugby League players exceeds their proportion of the overall population. Many journalists have therefore speculated about possible explmations for this trend. To date the most cornmon response has been to credit "black magicn- an innate physical ability possessed by Austrdia's Indigenous peoples. A qualitative interviewing technique was employed to generate specific data on this issue. Semi-stmctured interviews were completed with eight professional rugby league players who identified as Abongines. The sampiing of these subjects was drawn frorn four stages dong the participation spectrum - a) players on the verge of full-time professionai careers: b) players who were full-time professionals: c) individuals who had retired from professional rugby league. and d) individuals who chose to leave professional rugby league prematurely. The primary question of this study wax- What is the relationship between Rugby League and Aboriginality? This question was divided into three sub-problems in order to focus the data collection and assist with data analysis. These three sub- problems were: 1. How are identities formed. fostered and challenged? - What social construction took place conceming athletic/football identity. Abonginai identity and regional identity? 2. What is the nature of Aboriginal participation in rugby league? - This examination included three spaces on the participation spectrum including: dl- Aboriginal sporting carnivals. dl-A boriginal teams play ing within mainstrearn sport. and lastly, individual participation within mainsneam sport. 3. What is the relationship between identities within rugby league? - This section sought to examine the interactions which took place between differing identities in different places. The major finding of this exploratory study is that there is a positive, direct relationship between Aboriginality and Rugby League. By incorporating their belief in 'black magic' Aboriginal men generated a positive cycle of confidence, performance and affirmation of Aboriginality. A second- finding was the importance of dl-Aborigind sporting carnivals in sustaining comrnunity pride and hlfilling Aboriginal culturai and social needs. These ail-Aboriginal spaces provided invaluable oppomuiities for Aboriginal peoples to re- establish and maintain cultural ties within their community. The significance of ail-Aboriginal teams competing in non-Abonginal cornpetitions was also supported by the interviews of the eight men. All-Aboriginal teams provide an important counter to overt and institutiondised racism. These teams are most likely to be found/formed where Abonginal players/supporters are being dienated by racism and cultural differences. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Firstly I'd like to thank the eight men who allowed me the chance to speak with them and to begin this process of having more Indigenous voices heard. 1 can only hope that 1 have remained tnie to your intent and what is written here accurately reflects your experiences. Thanks to my cornmittee - Prof Metcalfe, Max Hedley, Vicky Paraschak. Thank you Prof. for your patience. advice and frankness. These are dl qualities I respect and seek to emulate. Max. thank you for your time and encouragement. To my friend and wife. Rae - it's been a long thecoming. Your support, fiiendship and love have kept me through the dificuit times; this is another experience we can enjoy together. For Vicky, who has also shared this trip with me - thank you. Your guidance never imposed and your suggestions always illuminated. This thesis is as much yours as mine and I trust you'll be as satisfied with getting this one out the door as 1 am. Thank you once again. 1 would also like to recognise the support of the Indigenous Sport Program at the Australian Sports Commission. without whose contribution the data collection required for this project would not of been completed. iii DEDICATION I have sought to honour the trust that has been vested in me by those who have participated in this process and those who have placed their contiidence in me throughout the last eight years. For the duration of this degree a photo of three women has overlooked my work. These women were alienated by the sarne system which their child now seeks to excel in. This thesis is dedicated to one woman who was not ailowed to go to school at al1 because she was black. to another woman who was told she'd do better elsewhere because she was biack. and lastly to a woman and a man who made deliberate decisions so their son could get the best chance he could. This thesis is dedicated to Granny, Nanna Dad and Murn - 1 love you dl. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................ i ... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................. iii DEDICATION ...................................................... iv TABLEOFCONTENTS .............................................. v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ..................................... 1 Definitions ....................................................? Aborigines in Austrdian Sport ................................... 4 A Theoretical Framework ...................................... 17 Abongines in Rugby League .................................... 22 Rugby League and Aboriginality ................................ 19 Research with Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders ................. 32 Methodology ............................................. 35 SomeReflections ............................................. 45 Notes ...................................................... 49 CHAPTER 2: DATA SUMMARY .................................... 54 Identity Construction .......................................... 54 Participation ................................................. 69 Relationship Between Identities In Rugby League ................... 83 Notes ................................................... 91 CHAPTER 3: ANALYSIS .......................................... 93 IdentityCons~uction.......................................... 93 Participation ................................................ 100 Relationship between Identities in Rugby League .................... 111 Relationship Between Rugby League and Aboriginality ............... Il5 Notes ................................................. 119 CHAPTER4:CONCLUSION ....................................... 120 Summary ................................................... 120 Recornmendations ......................................... 124 Conclusion .................................................. 128 Appendix A: Guided Interview: Abongines in Rugby League ................ 130 Appendix B: Permission to Interview Form .............................. 134 Appendix C: Revised Guided Interview ................................. 137 Appendix D: Sampling Categories ..................................... 140 Appendix E: Map of Austraiia ......................................... 142 References ........................................................ 143 CHAPTER 1 Introduction Sport was always more than a way out ...it was a wap to define who he was. and who he wanted to become. (Olson. 1396: 42) ...it is rare for Aboriginal people to renounce their responsibilities and rights in their Aboriginal society. (Eades. 199 1: 98) These two quotes encapsulate the phenornena to be investigated in this exploratory study. Eades ( 199 1 ) and Olson ( 1996) are speaking of two distinct concepts which intrnwine within the lives of the subjrcts who participated in this study. In the last hundred years of non-Aboriginal colonisation of Australia. Aborigines have rstablished an astounding list of achievements in sport (Tatz. 1995a). In Abonginal life spon has provided one of the few avenues for positive life