England captain Jamie George says his side will consider walking off the pitch if players are subjected to racist abuse during Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against Argentina.
The warning comes a year after replacements Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South were racially abused by a small group of spectators during England’s Test victory in San Juan.
A World Rugby investigation later concluded that an act of racial discrimination had taken place, with the Argentine Rugby Union assuring England it was an isolated incident.
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But George insists England are prepared to take decisive action if history repeats itself in Santiago del Estero.
“It’s something being considered,” he said. “If anything like that happened then it deserves the strongest of reactions. There is no place for that in the world and I feel incredibly strongly about that.
“We’ve had discussions around ‘what if?’. I really hope – and I’m optimistic – that the Argentinian Rugby Union has taken it very seriously. At the same time we’ve got a plan B if that doesn’t happen.”
George said England’s first response would be to alert the match officials so World Rugby’s anti-discrimination protocols could be activated.
“The first thing we’d do is make the referee aware of what we’ve seen so it can be properly logged and all the protocols can go into play. What we do outside of that we’re still deciding.”
The hooker revealed he has consulted players from diverse backgrounds within the squad, including Opoku-Fordjour, before deciding on England’s course of action.
“Asher’s obviously aware of what’s coming and he’s had conversations with a few of the other guys,” George said.
“I’m going to him because this isn’t just my call to make – the abuse wasn’t aimed at me.”
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While the off-field issue has dominated the build-up, George expects another fierce contest against the Pumas.
“It’s a big rivalry now,” he said. “We look at Argentina on the calendar whenever the fixtures come out and we know it will be a special occasion.
“On the field we’re very aware that when we play Argentina they’re an incredibly proud nation and it’s going to be hostile. They’re going to be desperate to win, especially on their own turf.”
Photo: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images
The post George warns England could walk off appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
England captain Jamie George says his side will consider walking off the pitch if players are subjected to racist abuse during Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against Argentina.
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