From Recording Video Calls In Her Bedroom During Lockdown To Producing A Popular Podcast In A Recording Studio. Giving A Voice To Diversity In Women's Rugby

A series of online purchases have turned Anne Onwusiri's lockdown hobby into a sporting movement. From recording video-calls with mates to hiring out a professional studio, things have been on the up for Anne since she started the ‘Black Girls Ruck’ podcast with her Hackney Ladies teammate Lamees Yosuf, just two years ago. But what’s the story behind the popular audio series?

It was only when Anne Onwusiri started playing for her local team Hackney Ladies, that she saw just how few black women there are in grassroots rugby.

“[At Hackney Ladies] We’re really blessed to have a diverse squad, definitely in terms of race and gender identity, but going away on matches you see that wasn’t the case everywhere.”

Anne recalls a particular instance that inspired her to create the podcast: “There was one time when me and Lamees (Yosuf), who was the captain at the time, were playing, and the opposition kept getting us mixed up because apparently, we looked really similar… Which we don’t really.” Anne is content that there was no real malice or racism behind it: “It opened my eyes to the fact that many people don’t grow up in environments where there are black people that may have some similarities but are completely different identities” However, she describes it as a poignant moment. One that made her think that this sort of thing must happen to other black players too.

When the pandemic struck, Anne was unable to play rugby, so she did what thousands of other bubbly, talkative, enthusiastic people did, and decided to launch a podcast.

Anne’s original recording setup was her bedroom, complete with the background noise of her four sisters pottering about the house. She used her laptop to record video-calls with her teammates on a free app but the calls often cut out.

“One day when I was feeling flush, I did pay for a month’s subscription to the premium version, which was a lifesaver in getting it started actually,” Anne tells me. When I ask how she paid for it, she laughs; “I paid for it securely and confidently with my Visa card.”

Initially, the podcast drew fairly little attention, admits Anne. Yet when Anne started to get big-name women’s rugby players on as guests, she noticed her audience beginning to snowball.

Visa

Anne’s Black Girls Ruck podcast covers a range of subjects, from self-empowerment to taboo topics like playing while on your period. As her listenership grew, Anne realised that she had to improve the sound as well. “The feedback I kept getting was that the quality wasn’t great. It needed to sound more professional, and it was time to invest in actual recording equipment as well.”

Before Anne knew it she found herself in a rabbit hole, shopping for equipment online to upgrade her recording setup. She ordered a pink microphone, headphones, a new laptop for recording the podcast and editing software for cutting episodes. “I use a lot more online shopping, just because it’s easier. With working it’s hard to get to the shops on time, and I don’t want to spend my weekends on Oxford Street.” Anne went on to say she feels confident making online purchases with Visa - as she trusts the brand and company.

When asked if she has ever come across any dodgy online shopping websites, Anne laughs as she remembers, “You do need to look online to get specific women’s rugby clothing… I once ordered rugby boots that were size ten, and they turned out to be ‘baby’ size ten. I wasn’t paying attention and saw that they were cheap, but when they arrived, they were soft baby shoes!” 

Black Girls Ruck currently has one complete season, and another is in the pipeline. These days, any new episodes are recorded in a professional studio, rather than a bedroom. “It’s really nice, ...It’s self-service studios, really affordable and really high-end equipment.” 

Renting a studio was a big step. “It’s a recurring cost. Every time we want to record we need to pay for the studio space, so that was quite a big decision,” concedes Anne, although overall she is happy with the improvements. “I think we wanted better quality and it felt like a natural progression to actually have professional sound, and not be asking my flatmates to be quiet.”

In the future, Anne intends to do special episodes, broadcasting live from a location. “We were going to record a special episode live from a pub during the Six Nations, but I caught covid” she groans. “But that is definitely on my list of things that I really want to do. More live episodes, and an audience as well!”

Anne says her mission for Black Girls Ruck is twofold: “I want people to understand the experiences of people in rugby, women in rugby, and particularly black women in rugby. Kind of thinking about how race does play a factor in sport, I’d love to explore that a bit more. But on the other side I’d also love to inspire a new generation of younger people, and younger listeners as well, to start spreading the word that rugby is for girls and young women and black girls and black people in general. It’s not just white middle-class men playing rugby. There are other faces in there too.”

Overall, Anne can’t believe how far her simple idea has come - giving her listeners, and herself, a strong sense of sisterhood within the world of rugby. “I think we’ve built a really strong community!” she tells me enthusiastically. “It’s really exciting to look at how much things have changed in terms of how I make the podcast and the impact it’s having on people. It’s really exciting because there’s so much I want to do… I’m excited to see where it goes.”

Whether shopping online for a pink microphone, booking time in a recording studio, or starting a movement, how you pay online matters. Visa helps protect your online payments meaning you can pay with confidence.

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