England captain criticises social media after Edogbo suffers racial abuse following Ireland debutBy Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union CorrespondentEngland captain Maro Itoje has criticised the “corrosive” effects of social media in response to the racial abuse faced by Ireland’s Edwin Edogbo following his international debut. Itoje, who will win his 100th England cap against Ireland at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, said: “It’s very sad on two fronts. “Social media has been a force for good in many ways, but it’s been a force for negativity in a lot of other ways. “It’s really important for athletes, as well as ordinary people, not to live their life based on what social media says about them. “It’s very dangerous, not only for the negativity but even when it is positive it can be corrosive,” Itoje said.

Source: Irish Independent February 20, 2026 08:14 UTC