Rugby fans have jumped to the defence of Ireland forward Edwin Edogbo who was the subject of racial abuse on social media after making his Test debut.
The powerhouse lock came off the bench and put in a strong shift as Andy Farrell’s charges claimed a hard-earned 20-13 victory over Italy in round two of the Six Nations.
However, it turned sour after the match as the Irish Rugby social media account on X was forced to disable comments and hide replies on a post celebrating his Test debut.
The hidden replies featured slurs with many questioning his ‘Irishness’.
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Edogbo was born in Cork to Nigerian parents and was raised in Cobh, stumbling across rugby back in 2015, starting his career with the Cobh Pirates, rising up the Munster ranks since.
Despite the vitriol from some, many came out in the young Munster forward’s defence and slammed the racial slurs.
“A player who worked his way up to the top. A player who possessed the talent and hard work that you lacked, is choosing to represent your country, a country he grew up in, on the world stage, and your first instinct is to be racist?” one fan wrote.
A Scotland fan added, “Don’t know much about him but I know this, if you’re abusing him, saying he’s not Irish then please do one. Bet he’s as proud as punch. Go well big man (but have an off day against us!).”
“The comments are turned off, I dread to think what a fantastic addition to the Irish team, can’t wait to watch him progress & career flourish,” a quote retweet read.
“We’ve gone so far backwards. So, so far backwards. Born in Ireland, played through the Irish and Munster system. Representing the country of his birth,” another stated.
After the match, head coach Farrell spoke glowingly of Edogbo and his journey to making his Test debut for Ireland.
“Well, we need to celebrate Edwin’s first cap, that’s for sure, because it’s one hell of a story,” he said when asked what Ireland need to do next.
“I’m so pleased that we’re able to get a win and show some fight to be able to get a win for him because his story is a phenomenal one. So, we’ll celebrate that with him.”
Edogbo’s rise
Edogbo’s rise to international rugby was detailed by Cobh Pirates PRO Richie McGrath in an interview with the official Munster Rugby website earlier in the week.
“The story goes he was actually more in love with tennis in the beginning when on one particular Saturday morning he was brought up to Cobh Pirates to watch his brother, Sean, play in a minis game,” McGrath said.
“He clearly took a liking to what he saw and decided to give it a go. Like any rugby player, the good thing about the sport is that it finds the position for you, no matter where you start. So, he started out on the wing and slowly but surely made his way along and into the centres. Before he knew it, he was in the back row and then the second row.
“That was just his starting point, which then led him to being awarded ‘Most Improved Player’ after his first year with the club and he was part of the Pirates U18 squad that made the final of the Munster Cup in 2019 and 2020.”
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His rapid rise through the ranks did not come without setbacks, the first of which came in 2021 when a ruptured Achilles tendon denied him the opportunity to represent the Ireland U20s. In 2023, his superb run of form was also curtailed when he ruptured his other Achilles.
“The mental side was tough,” Edogbo told reporters earlier this month when he was named in the Ireland squad for the Six Nations.
“I thought I was in good form before the injury and I suppose having it at such a crucial time was a tough pill to swallow.
“But I’m grateful to the Munster staff and everyone who helped me, friends and family, who helped me get out of that hole when I was in it and ultimately get me to this point at the moment.”
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