England prop Ellis Genge says the “aggression” and “abrasiveness” of rugby should be key to its enjoyment now that society “has gone quite soft”.   

Genge, who will captain England for their match against Fiji at the weekend, was involved in an injury-time scuffle with Australia’s players as Steve Borthwick’s men closed out a 25-7 win to start their Autumn Internationals.

The 30-year-old was quick to play down the severity of the situation, instead arguing that it helped to improve the spectacle of the sport, especially in the times that people were living in.

"It was just a bit of a squabbling. We can't whack anyone anymore. So, yeah, just a bit of argy-bargy," he told Rugby Union Weekly.

"I enjoy the animosity of rugby. I enjoy that we're an abrasive sport.

"I think we should relish it as opposed to shy away from it.

"Society nowadays probably enjoys coming to watch us play because I feel that society's gone quite soft if I'm being honest."

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Genge also spoke of the difficulty of competing in international rugby and the sacrifices that are made, which end up impacting family life.

He spent six weeks on tour with the British and Irish Lions during the summer, and has returned to the England camp for the internationals during this period of the season.

“It's been good, but I'd be lying to you if I said I haven't struggled," he said.

"It's quite daunting really. I don't like leaving them [family] at home anymore.

"It's been tough, but in the same breath, I always say to my missus, if I'm here, I'm all in. You've got to be unapologetically committed to the situation."

This will be the third time Genge has captained England, with the two previous matches ending in a record-breaking defeat at home to France in 2023 and a loss to Wales in a World Cup warm-up a few months later.

Despite those losses, the prop believes those setbacks have benefited the side in the long-term.

He said: "I think the team grew, not that we did it on purpose. But the moments that we had in those horrible times, like the defeat by France at Twickenham, actually was a bit of a leapfrog for us."