Hewitt’s mother’s plea after foul online abuse
THE mum of Welsh rugby star Ashton Hewitt has called on the public to become part of the solution after her son was subjected to vile online abuse this week.
Hewitt, pictured, has become one of the loudest voices in rugby in the last week or so, speaking out in the fight against racism, not only in sport but society in general.
A number of other rugby players, including England’s Ellis Genge, have also added their voice, while a local Welsh rugby player spoke out against racist “jokes” in his own team.
But now Hewitt’s mother, Jo, has been moved to voice concerns after her son and others were abused by an anonymous account on Twitter.
On Tuesday, the Newport-born Dragons winger posted: “Would slave trader statues start to be taken down if protesters didn’t start pulling them down themselves? Asking for a mate.”
It was a tweet in reference to the dismantling of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol, which was toppled and thrown into Bristol’s floating harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest last weekend; the statue had previously remained in place despite long-standing calls for it to be removed.
England prop Genge replied sarcastically: “Defo.”
But then the pair received a response from an anonymous account that has now been suspended.
It read: “C*** – I used to respect you – now I couldn’t give a f*** – hopefully the next bang on the head finishes you professionally and physically.”
In 2017, Hewitt battled concussion woes that kept him sidelined for months and scuppered his chances of representing Wales in the Six Nations that year.
Having noted the abuse her son received, Jo Hewitt posted an image of the tweet, adding: “This is what my son @ashton_ hewitt and another member of the rugby community @ Ellis Genge are facing TODAY because they are standing up. “Please don’t turn away because it doesn’t affect you personally. #bepartofthesolution #blacklivesmatter”
WRU chairman Gareth Davies yesterday issued a statement on racism in Welsh rugby, saying: “There is no place for racism of any kind in rugby union. Black lives matter.
“We are not a political organisation, but we are aware of our role at the very heart of Welsh culture and the responsibility that comes with that position.
“There are times when silence can be construed as an endorsement.
“Welsh rugby has a long-standing relationship with the ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ campaign, and recent proactive moves to work with other partners and modernise our governance structure to improve the diversity of its representation have been well received, but we are not the finished article. We must represent all of Welsh society, we know we can, and must continue to, do better and we will.”