
'He was taller than me at 10' - meet the man who inspired Itoje
"My parents were part of the Windrush generation," Steadman explains."They came over in 1956 and I do remind people why a lot of those immigrants came from the Caribbean, from the countries of South Asia from East and West Africa."They answered the call to help rebuild the motherland after the destruction of the Second World War."But while his family and migrants like them suffered racism and discrimination, Steadman suffered at home as well. His mother walked out on his abusive father when he was just one year old, and years later Steadman would do the same - unable to take any more of the beatings and neglect he was subjected to. Sleeping in a neighbour's shed or a local park, 10-year-old Steadman had to become streetwise very quickly."I got a job on a milk round where they paid me in old money seven and six a day, that's about 36 or 37 pence,' he says."But it meant I could finish my milk round, go to the cafe, get a big-boy's breakfast and have enough money for a packet of biscuits later in the day."I survived like this on the run, a feral child in north-west London, for the best part of three weeks."When he was eventually brought home by a policeman and a social worker after being taken in by one of his teachers, his father rejected him. "The policeman knocks on the door, my father opens the door and the look of disgust my own father gave me," Steadman recalls."He turned to the policeman and said 'I don't want him back, take him away' - I was 10 years old and I was taken into care."So I then spent seven years in children's homes."
Growing up in care Steadman forged a love for rugby - starting out as a hooker, then a back row, before becoming a full-back as he was quick and could tackle. But it was when he switched to scrum-half that it clicked - his school side became unbeatable and Steadman was called up to his county team and had trials for England schoolboys, though injury meant he never made the national side. He was picked up by Saracens and went on to be their first black captain as players such as Mike Wedderburn, Chris Oti, Victor Ubogu, Steve Ojomoh and Jeremy Guscott became some of the first black stars of English rugby.But for Steadman, while these players were great role models as forwards and backs, there were no black scrum-halves - other than him. "This is a challenge that I ask every rugby player - you've got to name me another English-born black scrum-half that's played elite rugby at Premiership level. I don't think there is," he says."In today's age, where there are so many talented youngsters of all shades, there must be some brown and black boys and girls that are talented enough to play scrum-half."Partly I think because where are the role models for them? When I was a young rugby player my role model - and I don't mind telling you - was Gareth Edwards, the king of scrum-halves."My black role models as a boy were Muhammad Ali and Pele, two iconic sporting figures that probably transcended sport, and my all-time role model when I was growing up was Nelson Mandela."
While Steadman may not have had many role models when he was a young player, he was determined to become one himself.After becoming a teacher he rose through the ranks and became headteacher at a number of prep schools - including Salcombe in south London.It was there he first came across a young Itoje. "From day one I remember seeing this 10-year-old black boy at my new school who was imposing, because physically he was big - he was taller than me and he was 10," remembers Steadman, who was awarded an OBE for services to rugby, education and charity in the 2023 New Year Honours."Normally he would have a basketball in his hand or a tennis racket or a football."Whatever he tried he was just outstanding, and one day I remember going over and saying 'Maro you should try this game rugby, you're built for rugby, you'd be good'."His eyes glazed over, but that evening I rang his father and said 'Mr Itoje, your son could be a very good rugby player, I suggest that in his senior school he starts playing rugby and please take him to Saracens, because Saracens will look after him'."I'm pleased to say that Mr Itoje listened to me, and although I didn't realise, Maro was listening because when he went to his senior school he did start playing rugby."The rest, as they say, is history.Itoje has gone on to earn 93 England caps, win five Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups with Saracens, and will captain the Lions on his third tour this summer - a role Steadman feels is perfectly suited to his former student."You're going to see someone that is very mature, very articulate," he says."I think he's learnt how to work the referees, unlike us chirpy scrum-halves."I've watched him this year and he's certainly at the crucial time just been there listening, just a subtle word in the ear and I congratulate him for doing that."I think he's incredibly fortunate to lead what looks like a very exciting squad for the British and Irish Lions."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘We'll try not to fall out' say sisters as they make history becoming first siblings to train racehorses together
SISTERS Sam and Jacqueline Coward have promised 'not to fall out' - after they made history becoming the first siblings to hold a combined training licence. Racing is full of fathers and sons - think John & Thady Gosden, Simon & Ed Crisford - who have gone into work together. 1 But the Coward girls are believed to be the first and only siblings taking on the challenge. Jacqueline was a champion jockey in the point-to-point sphere and has been training since the 2015-16 season. While Sam, a granddaughter of legendary handler Mick Easterby, has been helping out mum Cherry with her point-to-pointers. It was huge racing figure Mick, who trains alongside son David, who convinced the pair to join forces. They had their first runner as a duo at Thirsk last week and came just half a length from their first win courtesy of Valley Of Flowers at Carlisle on Saturday. The 33-1 outsider, ridden by another of Mick's granddaughters Jo Mason, just went down to 5-2 fav Fast Fred in a 1m3f handicap. Explaining the decision to link up, Sam told the Racing Post: "Grandad was always keen for me to join Jacqueline on the licence as he likes all of his girls to be doing well and getting recognised for it. "And he also makes sure none of us fall out. "It's really exciting. Jacqueline has stepped back a little bit lately as she's running around looking after two little children and I've been doing a bit more. "So it felt like the right time and made sense to jump on the licence. "We'll try not to fall out too much. "We work really well together, Mum [Cherry Coward] has had point-to-pointers all her life, and I've been helping out Jacqueline plenty before. "I still ride out a bit too and Mum has still got pointers, but she's taking a bit of a step back too." The Cowards currently have four horses in training and will aim to combine runners on the Flat and jumps. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:


BreakingNews.ie
37 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Lando Norris warned Oscar Piastri will use Silverstone setback to fuel title bid
Lando Norris has been warned rival Oscar Piastri will use his 'harsh' penalty at the British Grand Prix as fuel to fire his world championship bid. Norris is just eight points behind Piastri at the midway stage of the season following the British driver's maiden win on home turf at a rain-lashed Silverstone. Advertisement Norris delivered a composed performance before taking advantage of Piastri's 10-second sanction for his 'erratic braking' behind the safety car. Lando Norris took advantage of Oscar Piastri's penalty to win in Silverstone (Andrew Matthews/PA) Piastri felt hard done by with the stewards' verdict, but McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expects the Australian to bounce back from the punishment. 'I have to say that the penalty was very harsh,' said Stella after he oversaw McLaren's first victory at their home race in 17 years. 'There are a few things to review, but in itself, now the penalty has been decided and has been served, we move on. Advertisement 'We will see if there's anything to learn on our side and I'm sure Oscar will use this motivation for being even more determined for the races to come and try and win as many races as possible.' Norris' title hopes appeared in tatters after he crashed into Piastri in Canada. But just three weeks on, the championship momentum is firmly with the 25-year-old after he followed up his win in Austria with another victory on Sunday – the first time in his career he has sealed back-to-back wins. Norris now has four victories to Piastri's five this season, with four-time world champion Max Verstappen third in the standings but now 69 points off the championship pace. Norris' celebrations in front of a record 168,000 spectators at Silverstone were briefly halted when a photographer fell on him and he received a small cut to the nose. Advertisement However, Norris was able to take to the Silverstone fan stage to lap up the adulation of the British crowd alongside Piastri and McLaren chief executive Zak Brown late on Sunday night. Oscar Piastri still holds an eight-point lead over Lando Norris in the world championship (Bradley Collyer/PA) 'It's two wins in a row, but they've not come easy by any means,' said Norris. 'We've had good fights, but they're pretty strenuous, exhausting weekends because you're fighting for hundredths and thousandths of a second and you're fighting for perfection in every session. 'I'm also going up against some pretty good drivers. So, it takes a lot out of you, especially when you have a race like Sunday.' Norris will return to action for the Belgian Grand Prix on July 27 ahead of the concluding race before the sport's summer break in Hungary a week later. Advertisement


BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
England won't move 'world-class' Smith up order
Head coach Brendon McCullum says England will not be tempted to move Jamie Smith up the order - or bring in Jacob Bethell as a spin-bowling Smith made scores of 184 not out and 88 batting at number seven in England's heavy second-Test defeat by India at 21, has so far been overlooked during the India series, but his left-arm spin would be an option if England wanted to replace frontline off-spinner Shoaib Bashir or lengthen their said on Smith: "He's just developing at rapid speed, and from our point of view, we're very happy with him at number seven and with the gloves on." Asked whether Bethell could come in as an all-round option, the New Zealander added: "You never say never to do anything, right? But that's certainly not what we're looking at, at the moment, no."Smith averages 58.64 in the 12 Tests he has played since making his debut last 24-year-old is not the first-choice gloveman for his county Surrey, where he plays as a specialist batter at number swashbuckling unbeaten 184 he made against India in the second Test was an astonishing innings, a superb counter-attacking effort when England found themselves 84-5. It was both the highest score by an England wicketkeeper and number possible move for England would be to move Smith to number three, the position occupied by Ollie Pope. Though Pope made a century in the first-Test defeat of India, he can be inconsistent and could swap with Smith, sliding down the order and keeping wicket, as he has for England in six previous McCullum, himself a former Test keeper, drew comparisons between Smith and Australia legend Adam Gilchrist, who also batted at seven."He does look world class," said McCullum. "When we made the decision to bring Jamie Smith into Test cricket, we were hopeful that he'd be able to have that sort of impact, obviously in the middle, but also being able to have the power that he's got with the tail too."You wouldn't have done that to Gilchrist, so I don't think we should do that to Smith." Pope held off competition from Bethell for the number-three spot, although Bethell also offers the option of his left-arm has taken eight wickets in the India series, more than any other England bowler except Josh Tongue. However, the 21-year-old has been expensive - his wickets have cost almost 60 runs each and his economy is just below four an McCullum said England will not "crowbar" Bethell into the team."He's a batting option," added the coach. "He's the next one in if something happens."He wants to keep improving his bowling so that he can obviously impact the game across both the bat and ball. It's not something we'd look at from a tactical point of view to do."One player set to be included in the England XI for the third Test at Lord's, beginning on Thursday, is Jofra pace bowler, 30, has not played Test cricket in four years after a string of injuries, but seems likely to return as the home side freshen up their McCullum said Archer is "certainly" available, despite bowling only 18 overs on his first-class comeback for Sussex last week."Jofra is looking fit, he's looking strong, he's looking ready to go, and he'll come into calculations," he added."It's hugely exciting. He's buzzing as well. He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket."We all know what he's capable of achieving in Test cricket and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and also improve on what he's been able to do already in that form of the game."