The England and Bristol loose-head prop Ellis Genge has come out in force over the news that a prop for Benetton Rugby in Italy received a rotten banana as a present in the club secret Santa.

This is wrong on so many levels and it will be interesting if Benetton will do more about this or will they try everything to make it go away, which it seems they’re doing with this video below.

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Sorry this is not acceptable and asking the player to accept an apology and make a video unbelievable in this day. Sack the player and u have to look at the coaches who allows this sort of culture in the team.

— darran cornelius (@lofty_18) December 22, 2022

Benetton have suspended a member of staff as a “precautionary measure” while investigations take place into the racial abuse of Cherif Traorè. The Italy prop Traorè revealed on social media that he was given a rotten banana in the club’s Secret Santa and that his teammates reacted to the present by laughing, making him feel “hurt”.

Benetton put out a joint statement with the Italian Rugby Federation revealing the club have now taken some action.

“Benetton Rugby and the Italian Rugby Federation, in the aftermath of the affair involving some of the members of the franchise, wish to reiterate their firm condemnation of all forms of racism and discrimination, which have no place and must not have any place within the Italian rugby movement, sport and civil society,” the statement read.

“Benetton Rugby and the FIR inform that the Federal Prosecutor’s Office has launched the necessary investigations to ascertain the facts, as well as the collective and individual responsibilities, to protect the founding values and reputation of the game.

“At the same time, Benetton Rugby has decided to suspend one of its members as a precautionary measure for the entire duration of the Public Prosecutor’s Office investigations.”