World Rugby Upholds England’s Complaint on Racist Abuse in Argentina

World Rugby has upheld a complaint from the England rugby team regarding racist abuse directed at their players during a match in Argentina. The incident occurred during England’s second tour match on July 15, 2023, at the Estadio Bicentenario in San Juan, where England secured a 22-17 victory. Following the match, England filed an official complaint about the abuse experienced by their players from spectators.

In response to the allegations, World Rugby conducted an “immediate and thorough investigation,” which included witness statements and video analysis. Despite these efforts, the governing body was unable to identify the individuals responsible for the racist abuse.

World Rugby’s statement emphasized the governing body’s commitment to tackling discrimination in rugby: “There is no place in rugby or society for discrimination, abuse or hate speech, and any complaint of discrimination is taken extremely seriously.” The statement further acknowledged that while an incident was confirmed, the lack of identifiable individuals was regrettable.

Collaborative Efforts to Combat Racism

In addition to the investigation, World Rugby collaborated with the Argentinian rugby federation to develop an action plan aimed at enhancing operations, educating fans, and preventing further incidents of this nature. The federation’s president, Gabriel Travaglini, stated that upon learning of the incidents, significant efforts were made to identify a small group of five to seven individuals within a crowd of over 20,000 spectators. Unfortunately, these efforts did not yield results.

Travaglini expressed a commitment to continuing collaboration with World Rugby to eradicate discriminatory behavior, ensuring that future events foster respect and inclusion.

The commitment to addressing racism in rugby was echoed by Bill Sweeney, chief executive of England Rugby, who condemned the abuse. Both Sweeney and Travaglini praised the players for their courage in coming forward about their distressing experience.

Success on the Field

Despite the challenges off the field, England concluded their summer tour with a series victory over Argentina, finishing with a commanding 40-5 win against the United States in Washington D.C. This outcome highlighted the team’s resilience and focus on performance amid troubling circumstances.

World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson reaffirmed the support for England’s players and condemned the racist abuse, stating, “We offer our full support to the players involved and want them to know that rugby stands with them in opposing racism.” Robinson’s comments reflect a wider commitment within rugby to ensure that all players can participate in an environment free from discrimination.

As rugby organizations globally continue to confront issues of racism, the steps taken by World Rugby and the Argentinian rugby federation represent a significant push toward fostering an inclusive atmosphere within the sport.