SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO. The buildup to the match between Los Pumas and England is hotter than ever. England captain Jamie George dropped a bombshell in a press conference: if racist acts like those last year in San Juan occur, the English team could withdraw from the field. “It’s something being considered, yes. There’s no place for that,” the hooker fired, leaving everyone stunned.
The precedent is serious. During England’s last visit to Argentina in 2025, two players suffered racist insults from Argentine fans. The English federation reported the incident, but World Rugby investigated and found no one responsible. The victims were Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South. The former will be on the bench this Saturday; the latter was left out of the 23-man squad but still traveled to the country.
George, who was a late withdrawal at that time due to his call-up to the British and Irish Lions, recalled the episode with anger: “It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It wasn’t directed at me, but at my teammates, and I care about them more than anything. If something like that happens, it deserves a stronger reaction.” The Saracens player was clear: “I have to make sure the team is not affected.”
The Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) moved to cover itself. It took concrete measures: there will be messages on the giant screens and the stadium announcer will combat racism. Additionally, match tickets carry a printed message warning that the organization reserves the right of admission and permanence, and that any racist, xenophobic, or discriminatory conduct will result in immediate expulsion and a ban from future events. At an institutional level, the UAR Board of Directors enacted a mandatory Code of Conduct for all provincial unions.
George, who will retire after the World Cup in Australia, trusts that nothing will happen but is not entirely confident: “I really hope and am optimistic that the UAR has taken this very seriously and that we won’t have to deal with it. But we have a Plan B.” The captain, a teammate of Lucio Cinti and Juan Martín González at Saracens, maintains a great relationship with Marcelo Bosch and knows Argentine fervor well.
“We are very aware of the emotion that comes with playing against Argentina. No team should be prouder to represent their nation than we are. We must not hide the pride we feel playing for England,” said George, trying to ease tensions. But the threat is on the table: if there is racism, the English will leave. On Saturday, at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, all eyes will be on the stands.
Para mí esto es puro humo imperialista. Los ingleses, los mismos que construyeron su rugby sobre privilegios blancos, vienen a darnos lecciones. Me parece una hipocresía total. Apoyo a los Pumas, pero no me trago este discurso. Que limpien su casa antes de señalar la nuestra.
para mi los ingleses son unos llorones de mierda q se vayan a la concha de su madre si no les gusta aca no hay racismo son todos sensibles dejense de joder vamos pumas carajo 🇦🇷