Dordogne: Rugby Player Plans to File Complaint After Racist Insult in Tarn-et-Garonne

Dordogne – 09.06.2026: Last Saturday, June 6, 2026, an incident occurred during an away match of the US Bergerac Rugby Club in Tarn-et-Garonne that shook the rugby community. A player from the club was confronted by an opponent with the racist insult “putain de noire.” This insult was confirmed by the affected player to the regional news agency ICI Périgord.

The incident happened in the 70th minute of the game, at a peak moment of intensity between US Bergerac and the host team from Tarn-et-Garonne. After a regular play, the opposing player supposedly made the insult. The affected player, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported the situation and the subsequent emotional strain.

In response to the insult, the referee paused the game briefly to clarify the situation. Since the insult was not directly heard by the referees, no immediate sanction could be imposed on the responsible player. However, the affected player decided to make the incident public and announced that she would file a formal complaint with the authorities.

The US Bergerac Rugby Club strongly condemned the racist insult and emphasized in a statement that such incidents have no place in rugby or society. The club pledged full support to the affected player and stressed the importance of respect and fairness both on and off the field.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) was informed about the incident and launched an investigation. The aim is to thoroughly examine the incident and, if necessary, take disciplinary measures. The FFR emphasized that racism has no place in rugby and such incidents are treated with the utmost seriousness.

This incident is part of a series of similar events in French rugby. Already in February 2026, a player from US Drancy Saint-Denis was confronted with racist insults during a game against the Espoirs of Tyrosse. Additionally, in December 2025, a match between AS Eymet Rugby and the Club of Biganos in Gironde was prematurely ended by the referee due to racist insults.

These incidents raise questions once again about the presence of racism in French rugby and underscore the need to combat such behavior decisively. The affected player and US Bergerac Rugby Club hope that the complaint will send a clear message against racism and help prevent such incidents in the future.