Downing College’s rugby club has apologised for an “inexcusable” comment shared on its Instagram account.

A photo of members of Downing’s rugby boat was posted to the Downing Rugby Instagram page on Sunday (08/06), alongside the caption: “Call us AIDS the way we killed off Queens’.”

The rugby team is entering a boat in May Bumps separately to the College’s rowing team, with the rugby boat page also tagged in the swiftly deleted Instagram story.

The Instagram story came after a crash which had taken place between the Downing rugby boat and a Queens’ College boat on the river earlier that day, Varsity understands.

A song by the rock band Queen was playing over the Instagram story. The band’s lead vocalist, Freddie Mercury, died of AIDS during the epidemic, which disproportionately affected gay and bisexual men.

The rugby club published a second Instagram story on Sunday (08/06), apologising for the post. The statement described the story, as well as “previous incidents regarding certain members of the club,” as “inexcusable,” adding that they “by no means represent the club and what it stands for”.

The statement clarified that the club is “addressing these issues internally,” and apologised “for any offence and hurt this may have caused anyone”.

The statement continued: “We will strive to do better as a club. We need the Downing community to know we will address these issues and that we are proud to represent our College. We will foster a better culture and hold further behaviour accountable.”

A spokesperson for Downing College Rugby Union Football Club (DCRUFC) has since told Varsity: “The club has issued bans and suspensions to two individuals. In addition, a third member’s incoming committee position has been suspended, and they have been prevented from rowing for the College Rugby Boat. We, as a committee, have also strengthened and updated our Code of Conduct.”

One student at Downing was keen to emphasise that the behaviour in question was not reflective of a wider culture within the club. “I do know some of the rugby team and honestly they’re super decent people, there are definitely people who have absolutely nothing bad to be said about them,” they said.

The incoming captain of DCRUFC told Varsity: “The recent comment on social media is inexcusable and does not represent the club and what it stands for. The actions of individuals are being addressed internally with serious disciplinary consequences, extending to suspensions and bans, and we are reviewing our code of conduct to ensure this does not happen again.”

“We are deeply sorry for the offensive language and the hurt this has caused anyone, and we will do better as a club. We are proud to represent our college and want the actions of all members to represent the values we believe in,” he continued.

Downing College and Downing Boat Club were contacted for comment.