England rugby may walk off pitch over racial abuse

England's rugby team is considering walking off the pitch if any of its players face racial abuse during its upcoming match against Argentina on Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Santiago del Estero. Captain Jamie George stated that the team has discussed contingency plans following an incident during their last visit to Argentina a year ago.

The previous incident occurred during England's 22-17 victory in San Juan in July 2025, when replacement players Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South were targeted by a small group of fans with racial abuse while warming up. A subsequent World Rugby investigation confirmed an act of racial discrimination had taken place, though the individual perpetrators were not identified. The Argentine Rugby Union has since provided assurances that it was an isolated episode.

George, who is leading the side in the Nations Championship match, said leaving the field is an option under discussion. He emphasized that any repeat would warrant the strongest possible reaction. The captain explained that the team's first step would be to inform the match referee to ensure proper protocols are followed, but decisions on further actions are still being...