England rugby players may walk off pitch in Argentina if racist abuse is repeated

England’s rugby players are threatening to walk off the pitch in protest against Argentina on Saturday if there is any repeat of the racial abuse aimed at black squad members on their last visit a year ago. Further incidents will not be tolerated and, according to England’s captain, Jamie George, will prompt “the strongest of reactions”.

George was also present in San Juan last July when his replacement prop forward Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South were the target of racist slurs from a group of home supporters during the warm-up and the first half of the second Test. World Rugby later confirmed England had made a complaint, but, despite an investigation, the individual perpetrators could not be identified.

This time, George says England have discussed potential contingency plans, including leaving the field of play if it is deemed necessary. “It is something being considered, yeah,” said George, whose side on Saturday includes Opoku-Fordjour, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Noah Caluori and the uncapped Immanuel Iyogun.

“There is no place for racism in the world and I feel incredibly strongly about that,” George said. “We’ve had discussions around ‘What if?’ but the Argentine Rugby Union [UAR] have said to us they have done everything they possibly can to make sure it doesn’t happen. We have trust in that. At the same time we’ve got a plan B. [Last year] is something I will remember for the rest of my life – and it wasn’t directed at me. It was directed at my teammates and I care about my teammates more than anything. So if anything like that happened it deserves the strongest of reactions.”

To ensure a powerful, unified response in the event of any further issues, George has been canvassing the opinions of his black teammates should the worst-case scenario unfold again. “I’m a white player and I’ve never had to experience anything like that. This isn’t just my call to make. The abuse wasn’t aimed at me [but] it’s my responsibility to make the best decision to protect the players in and around the team.

“What I will continue to do is try and have another couple of conversations with a select group of players from different ethnic backgrounds and come up with what the plan would be. But I repeat: I really hope – and I am optimistic – that the UAR has taken this very seriously. I’m seriously hoping we don’t have to deal with that and that won’t become a part of the game.”

The England head coach, Steve Borthwick, is fully behind his captain and has also reiterated that “discrimination of any kind has got no place in rugby, sport or society”. There is widespread expectation that a hostile welcome could await England three days on from the eventful World Cup football semi-final between the two countries in Atlanta.

Argentina have made a mixed start to their Nations Championship campaign, losing to Scotland before beating Wales last weekend, but will potentially be a tougher proposition after three weeks’ training together on home turf. England, on the other hand, have been flitting between different hemispheres and do not have limitless energy reserves at the end of an emotionally draining season.

George, however, is urging his team to conclude their summer campaign in style. “We know there’s been talk around the team, the Six Nations performances and the disappointment around the South Africa loss. We want to make sure we turn that. It’s tough to beat Argentina in Argentina but I think that would be a big statement.

“We’re very aware that when we play Argentina they’re an incredibly proud nation and it’s going to be hostile. We have had some pretty big battles in the past and I am sure we will have another one on Saturday. They’re going to be desperate to win, especially on their own turf. We’ve got to be aware of that.”

And while England have won their last five games against the Pumas dating back to the 2023 World Cup pool stages, they still have to demonstrate that their progression towards the 2027 tournament is on track after five losses in their last six Tests. Suffer another disappointing defeat and, as the former All Black coach Steve Hansen used to say, there will be rocks under their beach towels all summer long.

Borthwick also publicly conceded this week that England are lacking in heavy-duty ball carriers relative to some of their main rivals. On the plus side, their scrum is much improved, their lineout has mostly held up well in the absence of the rested Maro Itoje and there is some serious talent out wide in the shape of Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman.

The secret, as ever, is to blend all those ingredients together at a time when the game is becoming faster and more power-laden. After this weekend, England will have just nine more full-throttle Tests before the World Cup in Australia and, given that context, it would surely have been useful to give players such as Henry Pollock and Benhard van Rensburg the chance to shine from the start at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades on the banks of the Dulce river.

Situated about 1,000km north-west of Buenos Aires, Santiago del Estero has proved a productive venue for the Pumas, who have beaten Scotland and South Africa in Argentina’s 12th largest city in the past four years. It may be a slight culture shock for England, who have spent the bulk of their week in Buenos Aires, staying within yards of the Obelisk monument where Argentina’s delirious fans gathered in their thousands to celebrate their country reaching the football World Cup final.

Having sat and watched their footballers stumble so frustratingly in the latter stages of Wednesday’s semi-final, England suffering a second chest-beating defeat by Argentina inside four days really would be a grievous blow. Unless the visitors can take an early grip, however, another tense tango will await them.

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