ASK ANY rugby league fan and they’ll tell you- Michael Lawrence is a modern legend of the sport. With over 300 appearances for his hometown club, the Huddersfield Giants, Lawrence has established himself as one of Super League’s most consistent and capable loose forwards.

This autumn, he is going to make history again, representing Jamaica at this year’s Rugby League World Cup. Despite all he has achieved, Lawrence says this is the pinnacle of his career.

“All I’ve ever wanted is to represent Jamaica, my family and my family’s heritage,” he told the Voice of Sport. “When Jamaica qualified for the World Cup in 2018, my eyes were firmly set on that. I’ve had a lot of individual accolades but when I told my parents I was going to play for Jamaica in a World Cup, the pride that came over them was something I’d never seen before and gave me one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. It’s absolutely massive.”

Lawrence and his fellow Reggae Warriors met for a two-day training camp in Leeds earlier this month. He says a confidence is brewing amongst the players as their opening clash with Ireland on Sunday, October 24 draws ever closer.

“We’re really confident of going and competing in this tournament,” he says. “We believe that the quality of player we have recruited can make us very competitive. We’re not there to make up the numbers or to be a gimmick. We’re going to give the best account of ourselves and compete.”

In addition to his endeavours on the field, Lawrence is one of rugby league’s most powerful voices off it.

In February 2021, he joined the RFL’s newly-formed Inclusion Board, which aims to make the sport more open and diverse. He says the World Cup is the perfect chance for rugby league to show just how united it can be.

“My work with the Inclusion Board started in lockdown last year and after the terrible tragedy of George Floyd’s death,” he continues.  

“We decided at Super League that we wanted to say something at the restart of the competition last summer. Me and some of my teammates did a big interview for Sky Sports and whilst there was a lot of positive feedback, there was also a whole heap of backlash too.

“We knew off the back of that that we couldn’t stop there and more needed to be done. Alex Simmons and a few others put together the Tackle It action plan designed to make rugby league more inclusive and diverse.

“When that was put together, a board was announced to oversee it and I put myself forward to be involved on the board and got one of the places.

“Since I’ve been on it, we’ve had numerous meetings and there’s numerous things being put in place to make rugby league more inclusive.

“I see the World Cup as a huge opportunity and platform to display how diverse rugby league can be with all these different backgrounds and cultures coming together.”

The RFL has faced criticism in recent weeks for how it has dealt with racism in the sport, particularly after the eight game ban issued to Wigan Warriors’ Tony Clubb following his use of ‘unacceptable language based on national or ethnic origin’ in a match in late April.

Lawrence is of the opinion that there are many things the sport can do to bring about change. “I think education is key,” he stresses. “A lot of the times you find in these situations that there are misunderstandings. If you talk to somebody and educate them, they will then have a better understanding and could change their views.

“I also am a strong believer that this issue can only be tackled from the top down. Leaders of organisations and teams must push the agenda from the top and after that, everyone else will follow. That’s the key to driving change.”

With less than 130 days to go until the tournament kicks off, Lawrence is keen for people, rugby league fans or not, to secure their seats, particularly to see the Jamaica thirteen in action.

“Go to every possible game you can,” he smiles. “It’s a great spectacle. Try to get to one of our games, especially the Ireland one. My family are all Jamaican and my wife’s Irish so we’re definitely going to have a party during that one!”

For tickets and further information about this year’s Rugby League World Cup, visit www.rlwc2021.com.

To learn more about the work Michael and his colleagues are doing on the RFL’s Inclusion Board, visit www.rugby-league.com/governance/inclusion-&-diversity/tackle-it.