BBC apologises for confusing England rugby players Ellis Genge and Lewis Ludlam

Team-mates took to Twitter to address the error, which was later corrected

England team-mates Lewis Ludlam (left) and Ellis Genge (Getty Images)

The BBC has apologised after publishing an article about England rugby player Ellis Genge that featured a picture of the prop’s team-mate Lewis Ludlam.

The article in question centred on Genge’s comments in support of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol being toppled by members of a Black Lives Matter march last week, but showed a photo of Ludlam with Genge’s name in the caption.

Both players took to Twitter to address the matter, with Ludlam writing: “I’m with Gengey on this one however, wrong mixed raced guy @BBCSport.

“Probably should be getting that right on an article about race issues. Not the first time this has happened.

“Not just Gengey. ITV think i’m Anthony Watson.”

Genge wrote: “I’m actually f****d off with this happening to every mixed race/black sportsperson. Must be the 15th time in less than a year just between me and @LewisLudlam.

“Tried my hardest to find pictures of me and @LewisLudlam looking the same but I still can’t see it.”

Genge also retweeted a series of posts calling out the BBC for the error.

A BBC spokesperson told The Independent: “We apologise for this human error, which fell below our usual standards on the website.”