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Bedford Blues to join social media blackout
Bedford Blues will unite with the wider rugby community in taking part in a social media blackout this weekend as a show of solidarity in the battle to combat online abuse and discrimination.
Blues will join other rugby clubs across the country - including all Premiership and Championship outfits - in switching off our social media platforms later this week.
This blackout will be seen across the entirety of the sporting world with Premier League and Football League clubs, the England Cricket Board (ECB), British Cycling and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) also taking part.
The four-day boycott will run from 3pm on Friday 30th April until 11:59pm on Monday 3rd May, which covers our trip to high-flyers Doncaster Knights on Sunday afternoon.
Our club website will continue to be operational throughout this social media blackout and we will have a full match report from the trip to Castle Park uploaded on the final whistle. This means the only way to follow the game in real time will be though the live steam production; purchase your tickets here.
The Followers Man of the Match award will still take place as normal, head over to our Vimeo channel post-match to see who has been chosen.
England Women’s Captain, Sarah Hunter said: “No professional sportsperson should have to suffer abuse, racism or harassment on social media. We’ve all seen how social media can help bring fans and players closer together but this does not mean abuse should be ignored.
“Hopefully this is an important statement that online hate will not be tolerated.”
Chairman of the football charity, Kick it Out, Sanjay Bhandari said: “This boycott signifies our collective anger. By removing ourselves from the platforms, we are making a symbolic gesture to those with power. We need you to act. We need you to create change.”
Bedford Blues appreciates the importance and value of social media in communicating with our supporters. We will remain in contact with our supporters during this period through our website and via email communications.
Stay up to date with proceedings from Doncaster; purchase your live stream tickets here.
