England Rugby is to join football and other sports by boycotting social media this weekend in a unified stand against racism and discrimination.
The Rugby Football Union has confirmed that all of its social channels including England Rugby, Allianz Premier 15s, Greene King IPA Championship and GB7s will observe the blackout.
Clubs competing in the Premier 15s and Championship will also join a boycott that will be in place among Gallagher Premiership sides.
England Rugby will join the football community and other sports taking part in a social media blackout from 15:00 BST on Friday 30 April to 23:59 BST on Monday 3 May in a show of solidarity against online abuse. Find out more ⤵️ — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) April 29, 2021
The "show of solidarity against online abuse" takes place between 3pm on Friday and 11.59pm on Monday night.
"No professional sportsperson should have to suffer abuse, racism or harassment on social media," England women's captain Sarah Hunter said ahead of Friday's match against France.
"We've all seen how social media can help bring fans and players closer together but this does not mean abuse should be ignored.
"While we have an important Test match in France on Friday, we understand there are bigger and more important issues and hopefully this is an important statement that online hate will not be tolerated."
Great Britain and England Hockey are also joining the boycott, with a joint statement saying "There should be zero tolerance of online discrimination or hate of any kind."
Building society Nationwide, which sponsors the England football team and is a partner in the Football Association's Respect programme, are taking part.
A spokesman told the PA news agency: "There is no place for hate in our society and we are committed to stopping online abuse in its tracks, including racism, threats and verbal assaults.
"As an official partner of the England team and partner of the FA's Respect campaign, we are standing four-square behind those who receive such vile attacks on a daily basis. To show our support, we're switching off our proactive social media activity from 3pm on Friday until 11.59pm on Monday, May 3.
"We are not a footballing organisation, but we are an organisation founded on the mutual principles of respect. We hope our support plays a small part in highlighting the issue and helps drive the message that spreading hate is never OK."
The action was launched last weekend by football's governing bodies, with the FA Women's Super League, FA Women's Championship, Professional Footballers' Association, League Managers' Association, PGMOL, Kick It Out, Women in Football and the Football Supporters' Association, who will all suspend use of their social media accounts.
Since it was first announced the boycott has grown as other sport governing bodies, sponsors, partners and broadcasters joined in.
The England and Wales Cricket Board, the Lawn Tennis Association, the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League are taking part as are broadcasters BT Sport and talkSPORT and sponsors adidas, Barclays, Budweiser and Cazoo.
