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England have until Monday to report alleged racial slur aimed at Tom Curry

By PA
South Africa's hooker Bongi Mbonambi (L) and England's fly-half and captain Owen Farrell (C) speak with New Zealander referee Ben O'Keeffe (R) during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 21, 2023. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP) (Photo by ANTONIN THUILLIER/AFP via Getty Images)

England have until Monday morning to lodge a complaint after Tom Curry alleged he was the victim of a racist slur in Saturday’s 16-15 World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa.

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Curry drew the incident involving hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi to the attention of referee Ben O’Keeffe around the half-hour mark of the match at the Stade de France.

Although the alleged slur is not audible on the ref link, Curry’s subsequent conversation with O’Keeffe is.

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“Sir, if their hooker calls me a white c***, what do I do?” the Sale flanker said.

O’Keeffe replied: “Nothing, please. I’ll be on it.”

When asked after the match if Mbonambi had said something he shouldn’t have done, Curry replied “yeah”, although he declined to reveal what was said.

Mbonambi refused to shake Curry’s hand at the end of a dramatic clash in Paris that was won by Handre Pollard’s penalty after 78 minutes.

The PA news agency has contacted World Rugby and the South Africa Rugby Union for comment.

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Comments

21 Comments
B
Ben 395 days ago

What a pathetic complaint. I can just imagine the discussion Curry is having with ref. “Please sir, I’m scarred for life, I’m emotionally crippled and caaaan’t carry on playing, I need to compose myself, caaaan’t you please punish that angry little black man, I’m afraid for my life, my children will carry this burden to their graves”. More is being said about this than Farrell’s attack on ref. Crazy

y
yster 396 days ago

The reality is Tom Curry should not even have been playing, should have been cited for those no arm knee breakers in their previous game, why on earth would Bongi go after him, what is the goal? Nonsensical at best

B
Bob Marler 396 days ago

Well I sincerely hope that when the lists of nasty names are printed, and cross referenced that Biggar gets cited for calling his team mates cunts in the game against Fiji.

B
Bob Marler 396 days ago

As we speak, Rassie is making a video of all the things the boks have been called.

Out Monday.

M
Muti 396 days ago

Mbonambi was saying “white side” in Afrikaans “wit kant” pronounced exactly like the see u next Tuesday slur. C**t is a seldom-used word in SA, even less so by someone like Bongi.

A
Andrew 396 days ago

Maybe Mbonambi meant English c**t

S
Snash 396 days ago

He said “windgat’ which is Saffa slang for conceit or arrogance, translates directly as “windy arse”

C
Chris 396 days ago

Cry baby 😭 be a man and play the game.

A
Akuila 396 days ago

Well if you play like a nut and try to injure players like Josua you deserve worse names than that. You should have been carded, It was an injustice. Injustice brings those kinds of demons out. So stop playing a nut and inviting the demons out from our pasts. As we all have won.

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