Candid and colourful Ellis Genge is just the voice modern rugby needs | Ugo Monye

Feb 15, 2020

England forward’s passion and his wider appeal are good for the game and reaction to post-match interview was over the top

Ellis Genge’s interview after England’s win over Scotland was one of the best I’ve heard for a long time. It was raw, it was honest, it was passionate and ultimately he was defending his team. I didn’t necessarily agree with everything he said but I loved the way he said it. The amount of grief he got because of it beggars belief. One person tweeted they could not believe that Ellis almost swore on TV. Almost swore?!

I’ve been scratching my head ever since, trying to work out just why so many people had a problem with it and I can’t help but think the problem is with closed minds. There seems to be an archaic view of what rugby should be, of what “rugby values” are, but the idea that all players should behave, look or sound a certain way is nonsense.

Tags: England rugby union team Rugby union Six Nations Six Nations 2020 Sport