Search for Past 7 days Archives

Latest News

Biggest ever Twickenham crowd on trial after All Blacks racism allegation Rugby

The behavior of the first ever 82,000 crowd at Twickenham will be another focus of Sunday's rugby union international between England and New Zealand after All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger said he was racially abused by fans there in the same contest a year ago.

Although the Rugby Football Association rejected Mauger's allegations, officials will be on alert in case there is any sign of English fans racially abusing the All Blacks, many of whom have Pacific island backgrounds.

``In terms of the crowd, I think there were a few racial remarks made to a few of our boys last year,'' Mauger, who is part-Samoan, told New Zealand media. ``And a few of the guys took exception to it, which is fair enough because there is no place for that in sport. It seemed to be the Island guys who got picked on.''

RFU chief executive Francis Baron said nothing was reported at the time although he would ask the All Blacks management team too look into Mauger's comments.

``No allegations of any racist abuse were made during or after that game, and it is puzzling why they have now been made a year later,'' Baron said.

``Rugby is an inclusive game for all, and the RFU abhors any form of discrimination or abuse based on color, creed, sexual orientation or disability.''

Sunday's game is the first since Twickenham was expanded with the reconstruction of the south stand and the capacity has been increased from 74,000 which means even more England fans in the stadium.

``The England fans who come to Twickenham are a credit to the ethos of rugby, and we have never had any allegations of racism leveled against them,'' Baron said.

``It is disappointing that they have been unfairly accused like this. I have asked the New Zealand management to investigate Aaron Mauger's comments and to take the appropriate action.''

On the field, New Zealand has recalled the world's best flyhalf, Dan Carter, after Nick Evans, who was due to start, failed a fitness test on his injured hamstring Friday.

England, which has lost its last five games and appears in disarray a year before it defends the World Cup, will debuts three backs _ winger Paul Sackey, centre Anthony Allen and scrumhalf Shaun Perry.


More Biggest ever Twickenham crowd on trial after All Blacks racism allegation Rugby

England will field three rookies when it faces New Zealand at Twickenham on Sunday, aiming to end a six-match losing streak against next year's Rugby World Cup ... Britain won its first rugby league matchin Australia in 14 years Saturday, beating the home side 23-12 toall but clinch a spot in the Tri-Nations tournament fin ... Australian rugby captain George Gregan has welcomed competition for his scrum half role emerging from the Wallabies current European tour. Gregan, the world's m ... England made seven changes to its team Tuesday to play South Africa in a rugby international this weekend as it bids to avoid a record eighth straight defeat. E ... Wales coach Gareth Jenkins brought in Gareth Thomas at fullback Tuesday and named him captain for the rugby Test against Canada on Friday. Jenkins had made 14 c ... Who can stop New Zealand with the World Cup to kick off in less than 10 months? The All Blacks thrashed France 47-3 in Lyon last weekend for the Six Nations cha ... England fly half Charlie Hodgson and prop Andrew Sheridan have serious injuries and will likely be sidelined until May, their club Sale Sharks said Monday. Both ... Captain and fly half Stephen Jones has recovered from a knee injury and will lead Wales in Saturday's rugby international as it bids to beat New Zealand for the ... Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan named three rookies in his team Wednesday to play the Pacific Islanders as part of nine overall changes. Back-rowers Stephen Ferr ... Back-rower David Callam will make his first start for Scotland as one of two injury-enforced changes for the rugby international against Australia on Saturday. ...

Last Videos