Genge makes abuse claims

In the midst of anti-racism protests around the world, claims have surfaced that the England rugby team were exposed to racial slurs during their tour of South Africa in 2018.

England played three Tests at Ellis Park, Bloemfontein and Newlands, which was the first home series for the Springboks under coach Rassie Erasmus, with the Boks earning a 2-1 victory.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live this week, England prop Ellis Genge claimed “ethnic players” like himself and coach Eddie Jones were racially abused during the tour.

The 25-year-old player claimed the incident had taken place after one of the three Tests, but he did not specify which one.

Genge also suggested the abuse had originated from a spectator, and not a Bok player.

“When we went on the South African tour in 2018 I remember after a game we were walking through one of the tunnels and they started hurling racist abuse at myself and a few of the other ethnic boys, and Eddie himself,” Genge said.

“It (racism) is still very rife, especially in sport. Look, you can’t control that yourself. You just sort of need to put the message out there,” he added,

In line with their policy to not comment on media reports, Saru general manager of corporate affairs Andy Colquhoun declined to react.

Ironically, the allegations came in the wake of the SA Rugby Union (Saru) stating on Tuesday it had made significant progress in the first year of the organisation’s Strategic Transformation Development Plan 2030.