Codebreakers Statue

The design, manufacture and installation of a statue on behalf of Codebreakers, a charity established to highlight the primarily black rugby league players who had to leave Wales to play rugby. Cardiff Bay Rugby Codebreakers project was established to support the aims and objectives of the Race Equality Task Force and seeks to recognise the contribution that the city’s multicultural community has made to international sport, as well as the prejudice and racism that the players faced and in turn inspire people and children in those communities which are among the most disadvantaged in Wales. To support the initiative a company limited by guarantee - Cardiff Bay Rugby Codebreakers Ltd was established and to support the projects charitable aims a fundraising committee has been set up. The committee was tasked with discharging the aims of the charitable organisation, and the key project identified was the delivery of a statue to celebrate the ‘Codebreakers’. A public vote was held that chose three players for the statue. Given the choice of subject, the historical context, and the sensitivity of the cause a specific sculptor was identified who had previously produced a statue of two of the players that the committee sought to replicate the specific style of in order to ensure the different statues are linked stylistically. These statues are sited at Wigan and Wembley Stadium and the link between the Cardiff and locations in England is an important part of the project, representing the journey made by the players. The design and detail in both these statues also artistically represented what the committee were looking to replicate in the statue for Cardiff.