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.<\/p>\n
The powerhouse lock came off the bench and put in a strong shift as Andy Farrell\u2019s charges claimed a hard-earned 20-13 victory over Italy in round two of the Six Nations<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, it turned sour after the match as the Irish Rugby<\/a> social media account on X was forced to disable comments and hide replies on a post celebrating his Test debut.<\/p>\n The hidden replies featured slurs with many questioning his \u2018Irishness\u2019.<\/p>\n Fans defend Ireland\u2019s new star<\/p>\n 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<\/a> ranks since.<\/p>\n Despite the vitriol from some, many came out in the young Munster forward\u2019s defence and slammed the racial slurs.<\/p>\n \u201cA 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?\u201d one fan wrote.<\/p>\n A Scotland fan added, \u201cDon\u2019t know much about him but I know this, if you\u2019re abusing him, saying he\u2019s not Irish then please do one. Bet he\u2019s as proud as punch. Go well big man (but have an off day against us!).\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe comments are turned off, I dread to think what a fantastic addition to the Irish team, can\u2019t wait to watch him progress & career flourish,\u201d a quote retweet read.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve gone so far backwards. So, so far backwards. Born in Ireland, played through the Irish and Munster system. Representing the country of his birth,\u201d another stated.<\/p>\n Ireland v Italy: Five takeaways as Sam Prendergast experiment \u2018should be over\u2019 with Jack Crowley \u2018changing the match\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n After the match, head coach Farrell spoke glowingly of Edogbo and his journey to making his Test debut for Ireland.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we need to celebrate Edwin\u2019s first cap, that\u2019s for sure, because it\u2019s one hell of a story,\u201d he said when asked what Ireland need to do next.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so pleased that we\u2019re 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\u2019ll celebrate that with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ireland player ratings: \u2018Bench impact\u2019 the difference as \u2018lacklustre effort\u2019 and \u2018struggling\u2019 scrum left Azzurri threatening a shock<\/a><\/p>\n Edogbo\u2019s rise<\/p>\n Edogbo\u2019s rise to international rugby was detailed by Cobh Pirates PRO Richie McGrath in an interview with the official Munster Rugby<\/a> website earlier in the week.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d McGrath said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was just his starting point, which then led him to being awarded \u2018Most Improved Player\u2019 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Brian O\u2019Driscoll tears Ireland\u2019s game plan apart in epic rant about Andy Farrell\u2019s \u2018negative\u2019 side<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mental side was tough,\u201d Edogbo told reporters earlier this month when he was named in the Ireland squad for the Six Nations.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I was in good form before the injury\u00a0and I suppose having it at such a crucial time was a tough pill to swallow.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019m grateful to the Munster staff and everyone who helped me, friends and family,\u00a0who helped me get out of that hole when I was in it and ultimately get me to this point at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n