Junior Nsemba: 'I want to show you can rise above the hate' ahead of England's World Cup opener
Junior Nsemba, a 22-year-old Wigan forward, has spoken publicly for the first time about the racist social-media abuse he received this summer and about his ambitions for the Rugby League World Cup in the buildup to England’s opening group match against Tonga on Saturday. He said he wants to “show you can rise above the hate” and to inspire young black people.
Nsemba is regarded in the article as one of England’s brightest hopes and a must-see talent during the tournament, and his profile has risen rapidly ahead of the World Cup. This summer he was targeted with racist messages on social media after the Warriors’ win against St Helens at Magic Weekend; the matter was dealt with by police and a 56-year-old man was arrested. The abuse coincided with a serious mid-season injury, and Nsemba says support from Wigan, chief executive Kris Radlinski and head coach Matt Peet was crucial. He is also a supporter of the Rugby Football League’s Respect campaign.
Reflecting on his immediate reaction to the abuse, Nsemba said: “I don’t really know if I was angry when I saw it … just upset, and really disappointed.” He added: “The way I’ve been brought up, if you’ve got a bad opinion then keep it to yourself.” He continued: “I don’t really care what people have got to say if it’s that bad, to be honest: but I know my family do, and it impacted them more, which was really upsetting.”
Family was Nsemba’s primary concern when the messages appeared, and he described how the incident affected his mother. “I always tell my mum to stay out of the comments and when she saw what happened, she had to really fight not to say something back,” he says. “I’m really proud of her for holding back because when I was reading it with her, I saw how it impacted her. It’s wild, really, how someone can watch a game of rugby and come up with something like that. I don’t understand it. You can be loved and hated on the rugby pitch but to possess that level of hate, I’ll never understand it.”
Nsemba’s parents emigrated to England from Cameroon before he was born, and he described a close family bond that made the episode particularly painful. He has framed his response to the abuse around a desire to lead by example for younger people in similar situations, citing his seven-year-old brother. “My little brother is seven years old and I don’t know what path he wants to take in life yet, but I don’t think it’s the rugby one,” he smiles. “But whatever path it is, if I can help inspire young black people like him and be a bit of a leader, someone who can show that you can rise above those comments. I’m really motivated to help young people that might face a similar situation.”
Nsemba also spoke about his wider sporting family and the legacy he feels connected to through his Cameroonian relatives. He is the nephew of former Liverpool defender Rigobert Song, who represented Cameroon at four World Cups, and his cousin Alex featured in two tournaments for the same nation. “It’s a pretty hard thing to hold down the Song name and live up to them,” he laughs. “Rigobert and Alex, man, they’ve achieved so much, right? But I’m on the other side of things in so many ways, especially with it being rugby. I just want to make a name for myself, my own family and continue that rich legacy. It’s something I don’t take for granted.”
Describing his upbringing in Wigan and the early days of his career, Nsemba recalled playing for his amateur club and the small rewards that accompanied those matches. “It’s not a sob story but we had a pretty humble beginning,” he reflects. “When I was younger it was just about playing for my amateur club, Wigan St Judes, and getting sausage and chips after the game! Now it’s a World Cup. I guess it just shows hard work pays off. But my job is not done – this is only the start of my career. I just want to show people that if you put your mind to something and continue to give 100% you can accomplish your dreams, whatever obstacles and hate is put in your way.”
Nsemba will make his maiden World Cup appearance as England begin their group campaign against Tonga on Saturday, completing the immediate next step in his first World Cup tournament at a young age.