World Rugby confirmed this summer that there had been racial slurs shouted at England players but the perpetrators could not be identifiedAsher Opoku-Fordjour with Chandler Cunningham-South during England’s tour of Argentina this summer(Image: Getty Images)

An England international has spoken out about being racially abused during their tour of Argentina earlier this summer.

Prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour was racially abused by a section of the crowd in San Juan during England’s second Test against Argentina in July. Team officials had lodged a complaint to governing body World Rugby over the incident that occurred when the visitors’ replacements – which included Opoku-Fordjour – were warming up in the first half.

World Rugby later confirmed that there had been an investigation into incident, which included witness statements and video analysis, had taken place.

However, Union Argentina de Rugby (UAR) were not able to identify the “five or seven” individuals responsible. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the incident, 21-year-old prop Opoku-Fordjour revealed he was on the receiving end of racial slurs on more than one occasion during England’s victory.

“When we first started warming up, we had our individual time,” Opoku-Fordjour told the Telegraph.

“I was warming up on the floor and there were racial slurs said to me from the crowd while I was warming up.

“I just ignored it, I was trying to warm up. It was in English. I just ignored it, didn’t tell anyone, and cracked on. I was locked into the game.

“Then, we started warming up again after about 20 minutes of the match, and there were more racial slurs (from behind the posts).

“But, this time, the other boys heard it. I asked Bevan (Rodd) ‘have you heard this?’ and he said that he had and then he shouted at them.

“He said something to them. We were walking back in and then someone told Kev Sinfield. I’m not sure anything else was said after that. It was pretty s—, to be honest.”

England’s seven replacements for the match were Curtis Langdon, Beven Rodd, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Chandler Cunningham-South, Guy Pepper, Alex Dombrandt, Jack van Poortvliet and Cadan Murley – with Opoku-Fordjour saying they all know what they heard from the crowd.

The Sale prop, who was called into train with the British and Irish Lions, added that he never considered not playing in the match despite the racist slurs.

“I would never do that,” he added. “I was just trying to stay locked into the game.

“We were on tour. We had a game to win. That was top of my priorities. I just tried to ignore it and carry on.

“I didn’t even look at them. I was just trying to stay in the game. The game was my main focus. In 2025, that stuff should not be happening.”