Dordogne: Female rugby player plans to file complaint after being subjected to racist insults in Tarn-et-Garonne

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

The incident occurred in the 70th minute of the match, when the game between US Bergerac and the home team Tarn-et-Garonne was at a peak of tension. After a regular play, the opposing player uttered this insult. The affected player, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared details about the situation as well as the psychological pressures thereafter.

In response to the insult, the referee temporarily stopped the game for a short time to clarify the situation. Since the referee did not hear the insult directly, they could not immediately penalize the player responsible. However, the affected player decided to publicize the incident and announced that an official complaint will be filed with the competent authorities.

The US Bergerac rugby club strongly condemns this racist insult and emphasized in a statement that such incidents have no place in rugby or in society. The club commits to providing full support to the affected player and underscores the importance of respect and fairness both on and off the field.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has been informed about the incident and has launched an investigation. The goal is to thoroughly review the matter and, if necessary, impose appropriate disciplinary measures. The FFR affirms that racism has no place in rugby and such incidents will be dealt with seriously.

This incident follows a series of similar events in French rugby. In February 2026, a player from US Drancy Saint-Denis was also racially insulted during a match against the Tyrosse Espoirs team. In December 2025, a match between AS Eymet Rugby and the Biganos Club in Gironde was also prematurely stopped by a female referee due to racist insults.

These incidents once again raise questions about the presence of racism in French rugby and emphasize the necessity to vigorously combat such behavior. The affected player and the US Bergerac club hope that the complaint will send a clear message against racism and prevent similar incidents in the future.