Zurich Premiership: Andrew urges RFU to tackle racism

Rob Andrew has called for British rugby union chiefs to tackle racism.

Newcastle Falcons have lodged an official complaint with the Rugby Football Union making allegations of racial abuse against Gloucester's Olivier Azam.

The club has accused the French hooker of racially abusing Falcons' Tongan forward Epi Taione during the Zurich Premiership match at Kingsholm last month.

Both Azam and Taione were sent off for fighting during the match last month - with Andrew and owner David Thompson both accusing the Frenchman of racially abusing the Falcons man and spitting in his face.

Gloucester and Azam have both strongly denied the claims and an internal inquiry refuted the allegations.

Now Andrew has called for action from the RFU - and denied the unseemly row has damaged the reputation of the sport.

He said: "I don't think it's bringing rugby into disrepute. I think it's an issue we have to deal with - for too long it's been brushed under the carpet. We have to deal with it.

"We're standing by our player and as far as we're concerned it happened and we'll let the authorities deal with it.

"We are carrying on with investigations. We've made out complaint to the RFU and there's a disciplinary hearing on Thursday to look at the sendings-off and they will probably look at setting up an inquiry.

"We'll be going to the disciplinary hearing asking them to say the sending off was sufficient in the circumstances for Epi."