Bristol-born Leicester Tigers and England star Ellis Genge was racially abused on Twitter just hours after lifting the Premiership title at Twickenham.
Genge, who is signing for Bristol Bears this summer after six-and-a-half years with Leicester, sent a thank you message to Tigers fans on the social media platform at 2am in the wake of the 15-12 triumph over Saracens in what is English domestic rugby's showpiece event.
However, moments later he shared a direct message with his 63,000 followers that detailed somebody claiming to be from a rugby club and appearing to indicate they knew a mutual friend before joking about a signed shirt. The following message then contained a one-word racial slur.
Genge removed the personal details of the individual who sent the offending message but added: "On another note, think it’s important to highlight that this is still a massive problem, from a legit account too. Not here for a headhunt hence the black out, common occurrence and socials/law should come down on it."
Racist abuse of sporting personalities on in the internet has been an unpleasant trend over the last few years with social media platforms under increased pressure to raise their safeguarding levels and even drop the concept of anonymous accounts in order to help identify culprits.
Two years ago, Knowle West-raised Genge, whose mum is mixed race while his dad is white, revealed that while on an England tour to South Africa in 2018, both he and head coach Eddie Jones were racially abused. In 2020, he also complained to the BBC when they incorrectly used a picture of international team-mate Lewis Ludlam in a story about Genge.
The 27-year-old had delivered an emotional speech on the Twickenham turf after helping secure the Tigers first title since 2013. Having been signed from Bristol in 2016, Leicester's guidance have enabled him to become one of the best front-row forwards in the world.
Bearing a large cut by his right eye, Genge said: "I'm quite emotional with the more I speak. I remember when I came here February 1, 2016, I was a little scrubber from Knowle West, I was never supposed to be here, ever.
"So for me to come to a club with so much prestige, all those greats who have played before him to be a small part of that is brilliant. I've made some lifelong friends, people who I'd never even thought I'd even chat to, let alone be mates with."
