England Rugby Players Face Racist Abuse in Argentina

World Rugby Investigates Incidents During San Juan Test Match

Players representing England’s rugby union team endured racial abuse from spectators during their second Test victory against Argentina in San Juan on July 12th. Team officials have formally lodged a complaint with World Rugby following the discriminatory behaviour, which occurred while the team’s replacements were warming up.

Investigation Launched into Discriminatory Acts

World Rugby confirmed an investigation into the incident, stating that despite significant efforts, the individuals responsible could not be identified. The inquiry included reviewing witness statements and video footage from the match, which was attended by over 20,000 fans. The Union Argentina de Rugby (UAR) president, Gabriel Travaglini, expressed regret over the inability to pinpoint the perpetrators and strongly condemned the acts.

“We strongly condemn all acts of racism and stand in solidarity with the England rugby players who felt aggrieved.”

—Gabriel Travaglini, President of the Union Argentina de Rugby

Travaglini added that the UAR is committed to collaborating with World Rugby on educational initiatives to prevent future occurrences. This incident follows other high-profile cases of discriminatory behaviour within Argentine sports.

Pattern of Discriminatory Behavior in Argentine Sports

In 2020, prominent players Pablo Matera and Guido Petti faced suspension after past racist remarks made on social media resurfaced. More recently, in 2024, Chelsea footballer Enzo Fernandez issued an apology after being filmed participating in a chant that questioned the heritage of France’s mixed-race players. These events highlight a concerning trend that the sporting community is working to address.

“Rugby completely condemns discriminatory behaviour of any kind. We offer our full support to the players involved and want them to know that rugby stands with them in opposing racism. I applaud their courage in raising what must have been a highly distressing experience.”

—Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chairman

Despite the distressing events, England secured a successful summer tour, concluding with a 40-5 victory over the United States in Washington D.C., marking a clean sweep of three wins.