England’s rugby team has made it clear that it is prepared to take decisive action if players are subjected to racist abuse during Saturday’s Test against Argentina, with captain Jamie George confirming that leaving the field is among the options being discussed.
Previous Incidents Continue to Shape England’s Approach
The warning comes after England players Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South were racially abused while warming up before last year’s Test match in Salta.
The incidents prompted the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to submit an official complaint to World Rugby.
Despite an investigation, those responsible for the abuse were not identified, leaving the matter unresolved and reinforcing England’s determination to respond more firmly should similar behaviour occur again.
Jamie George Says Walk-Off Is Being Considered
Speaking before the upcoming encounter in Santiago del Estero, George revealed that England’s leadership group has discussed the possibility of abandoning the match if racist abuse is repeated.
The England captain stressed that racism has no place in rugby and said any recurrence would warrant the strongest possible reaction.
While no final decision has been made, he confirmed that walking off the pitch remains one of the responses under consideration.
George explained that witnessing his teammates become targets of discrimination last year had a lasting impact on him, even though he was not personally affected.
He said protecting his teammates remains one of his highest priorities.
Team Consultation Will Determine Final Course of Action
Rather than making the decision alone, George said he intends to consult the squad before the match to ensure any response reflects the views of those most directly affected.
He acknowledged speaking with teammates, including Manny Feyi-Waboso, and emphasized the importance of hearing from players who have experienced racial abuse firsthand.
George also said he plans to discuss the issue with Opoku-Fordjour before agreeing on the team’s approach.
According to the captain, any decision must be collective and considerate of the players involved rather than resting solely with the leadership.
Lessons Learned From Last Year’s Experience
George admitted England was not fully prepared to deal with the situation when the abuse occurred in Salta because many players had never encountered such incidents during a match.
He revealed that the squad only became aware of the abuse at halftime, limiting their ability to react immediately.
Looking back, George believes the first priority should have been informing the referee so that the incident could be officially recorded and the sport’s anti-discrimination protocols activated without delay.
England now intends to ensure that any future incidents are reported immediately to match officials before considering any additional action.
Hope That History Will Not Repeat Itself
While England has prepared for every possibility, George expressed optimism that the issue will not arise during this weekend’s fixture.
He said he believes the Argentine Rugby Union has taken last year’s events seriously and hopes the match will be remembered solely for the rugby rather than off-field controversy.
Nevertheless, England has made its position unmistakably clear: if players are again subjected to racist abuse, the team is prepared to take the strongest measures available in defense of its players and the values of the sport.
Summary
England captain Jamie George has confirmed that the team is considering walking off the pitch if players experience racist abuse during Saturday’s Test against Argentina.
The discussions follow incidents involving Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South before last year’s match in Salta.
George said England has learned from that experience, will immediately alert match officials if any abuse occurs, and will determine its response collectively after consulting teammates, while hoping no such action will ultimately be necessary.
