Ulundi Makhanya: Proud to be breaking down barriers in Black History Month
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across sport more representative and ultimately, diverse. Premier Rugby has supported the programme and I have been lucky to meet some really inspirational people from within elite and amateur sport who have given some great insight into their knowledge and experience.” Lundi believes the project is very important for diversity, saying, “I think it’s really interesting, because a lot of the real challenge in the conversation about diversity is about the subtlety and the greys. In any business and in any walk of life, having people with different backgrounds and with different experiences contributing to the decision-making processes is really useful and I guess what this programme is about is trying to put people from black and minority group in particular into situations where they might be part of a conversation and give a different take. If you are making decisions that either discriminate against or leave out a group of society that you could be talking to, then surely it makes sense to have people there that can point these things out, that can give a different perspective and help you engage with an audience that could be engaging with your brand and with your company.” When discussing Black History Month and this year’s Proud To Be campaign, Lundi described a feeling of ‘empowerment’. “The events of the last 18 months, and particularly some of the conversations that have transpired following the tragic murder of George Floyd, have felt more progressive, with people more open to tackling topics which have often been avoided. While I am naturally quite a private person, I have recently made a conscious effort to put myself out there more and become part of the conversation that will bring about change.” He mentions in particular a Radio 4 podcast, BBC Rugby Union Weekly, in which Maro Itoje, Ugo Monye, Anthony Watson, Ellis Genge and fellow OA Beno Obano spoke eloquently and powerfully about the issues facing black players in rugby. “I have been impressed by the younger generation, who seem more intent to force change in things that are important to them. There have been a number of sports stars who have really used their profile to initiate conversations and drive change. I have seen Maro Itoje talk across a number of platforms and have found much of what he says to be quite relatable, but also feel that he has articulated the key elements of the discussion about race really well. I particularly related to Beno’s documentary, Everyone’s Game , on Amazon in which he explored race and class within rugby. I have never met him but it is clear that we have both had similar experiences early in life and of course we both went to the same school.” “I think probably a few years back these conversations were not happening in rugby, so it has felt like there have been a few things that have changed, which gives me some positivity for the future. I think both sport and rugby are moving in the right direction. Sport, while it is ultimately just a reflection of society, has a great opportunity to help open up people's minds and drive conversation on a more public and national scale. I think that keeping the conversation (and sometimes debate!) going, is really important, as it helps people question the way they think, which is something that we should all do. Some of the initiatives and questions that are being asked now would not have been asked 18 months ago, and so that is in itself a step forward. But we still have a long way to go!’”
After a couple of non-paid internships, he got offered a permanent role at the Rugby Players' Association (formerly the Professional Rugby Players' Association) working alongside current RPA chief executive Damian Hopley, a former England and Wasps player, founder and chief executive of the not-for- profit representative body and voice of professional rugby union players in England. “The RPA was a great place to start my career in the sports industry. There was a pretty small team, and that meant that I received a lot of responsibility for a first role. It was an absolutely brilliant experience for me and I got to work with media, interview players and write a lot of articles, which was fun and a good learning experience.” Three years later, Lundi went to South Africa to work for IMG (International Management Group). “I had a two burning desires; to live and work abroad, and to live in South Africa and experience life in the country my parents had grown up in (and my dad had returned to). During an earlier internship at IMG in London, I had worked hard to try and make contacts within the industry, and so when I moved to South Africa, I managed to find a role at IMG South Africa.” After a year or so Lundi moved to Megapro, which is one of South Africa’s leading sports marketing agencies and the market leader in rugby. “The company managed ABSA Bank's sponsorship of the Currie Cup (the main domestic competition), as well as the Springboks. I learned a great deal about sponsorship very quickly there, and the role was brilliant for travelling around the country as I regularly got to visit stadiums on matchdays.” The move to South Africa was always going to be temporary and Lundi returned to the UK where he worked for almost a decade with British Triathlon. “When I returned to England, I still wanted to be involved with sports, and we were just over two years out from the London 2012 Olympics, which really interested me. I learnt of a role at British Triathlon, and was successful in my application. It was a great time to be involved with the sport as, with success at the games (through the Brownlee brothers) and the securing of regular live terrestrial TV coverage, I was lucky enough to be there during a period of massive growth. Though the sport is not known for its great diversity, it is a sport actively trying to address it. The staff at the Federation were pretty diverse, which I think was due in part to them actively seeking to make it so. I also noted that they have put down some diversity targets for themselves, which is brave, and a positive step.” After nine years at British Triathlon, it was time for a change and there was an opportunity to move back into rugby; Lundi secured a role at Northampton Saints, one of rugby's traditionally elite clubs. “It is a really ambitious company, which is what attracted me.” He has been at the club for almost four years now and manages their Commercial Partnerships (Sponsorship). This involves him getting new partners on-board, but also looking after the partners already in place. “I manage a small team, who are very good. The department workload is always pretty full on, so it’s never boring!” As part of his role, Lundi works on the Sporting Equals Leadership project. “Sporting Equals is an independent body that actively works to promote ethnic diversity throughout the sporting community, and I am excited to be part of their leadership project which is designed to help make boardrooms
Building on the College’s focus from last year’s Black History Month of Adding to History , this year we explored the theme of Ancestors and Descendants over the month of October. Pupils were set the task of researching a Black British pioneer then creating a portrait of this person. These have been printed as postcards as part of the Passing on History initiative - a chance for us all to play a part in ensuring that the contribution made by Black people to Britain’s history is shared and celebrated. It highlights the importance of continuing the conversation even though Black History Month has come to an end. The Head of History, Mr O Siochrú reflected, "we were reminded that Black History Month promises to build and to enrich; as a cultural, commemorative, and political project, it leaves us with a fuller sense of who ‘we’ as a community are, by asking where ‘we’, in all our manifold differences, have come from."
As part of its Black History Month coverage in October 2021, the Premiership Rugby website featured an interview with Ulundi ‘Lundi’ Makhanya (91-98) under the heading Ulundi Makhanya: Proud to be Breaking Down Barriers in Black History Month. In the piece, he focused on his role at Northampton Saints Rugby Football Club where he is Head of Commercial Partnerships and has been selected to be part of the Sporting Equals Leadership project. The aim of the project is to equip ethnically diverse community professionals and former athletes with the skills they need to be effective on a board, and influence equality, diversity and inclusion in the boardrooms of sport. Lundi was born to South African parents but brought up in the UK, arriving at the College in 1991 having never played rugby before. “I had grown up with football but I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the College and rugby was a big part of that. David Flatman, Nick Easter and Andrew Sheridan were at Dulwich at the same time as me and the spotlight was very much on the sport. Not only did I play (hooker) for the First XV, I was fortunate enough to get selected for England Schools and played for Blackheath Rugby Club.” Lundi left the College in 1998 and went to Exeter to study History and Economics. “I had played at a reasonable level and at that point I decided I wanted to stay involved in rugby, playing both for the university and signing for Exeter Chiefs. When I finished university, I knew that sports were really important to me and, although I had decided that it probably wasn't worth pursuing a playing career, I still wanted sports to be part of my life. However, I soon discovered that the sporting industry is a really challenging one to get into. It is just so competitive.” Ulundi Makhanya Proud to be breaking down barriers in Black History Month
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