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SA Rugby issue 120-word statement on Bongi Mbonambi findings
By Ian Cameron
SA Rugby have welcomed the drawing to a close of the World Rugby investigation into Bongi Mbonambi in a 120-word statement. The union have said they had absolute faith in Mbonambi’s version of events from the outset.
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World Rugby’s decision to close its investigation into the alleged racist slur directed at Tom Curry by Mbonambi due to insufficient evidence broke this morning.
Curry claimed to referee Ben O’Keeffe in the second quarter of England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa on Saturday that he had been called a “white c***” by hooker Mbonambi.
In an unexpected development, the RFU revealed that it disclosed to the inquiry that Curry “had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player” when the rivals clashed at Twickenham last November.
World Rugby announced it has been unable to find evidence of either incident, but the RFU insists the case should have been presented to an independent disciplinary hearing.
Unlike the RFU, SA Rugby welcomed the findings.
“SA Rugby has noted World Rugby’s announcement concerning their investigation into an incident arising from the Rugby World Cup semi-final and welcomes the decision that no further action will be taken.
“Any form of racism is abhorrent to SA Rugby and the Springbok team whose purpose is to do everything in its power to assist in uniting our diverse and multicultural nation.
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“Bongi Mbonambi is an experienced, respected and decorated Test player and, needless to say, denied the allegations from the outset. SA Rugby has absolute faith in the honesty and integrity of Bongi.
“The team’s focus remains, as it has throughout the week, on Saturday’s match against New Zealand.
“SA Rugby will make no further comment on the matter.”
The RFU have alleged that Mbonambi had made a similar slur last year during the Autumn Nations Series.
“The subsequent World Rugby investigation were informed by Tom Curry that he had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player, in the 2022 autumn Test. World Rugby have today announced their decision not to bring charges in respect of either incident,” read their statement this morning, which you can read in full in the below link.
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additional reporting PA
Must be difficult for Faf de Klerk. He played with Tom Curry at Sale for several years and knows him to be a decent man of his word. And now he has to wear the same jersey…
The very best thing curry could have done at the time was to give Mbonambi a proper smack in the mouth.
Job done.
This is stupid... The boks speak Afrikaans to one another. Guy definitely misheard. 😂
🤣🤣
yawn
Ha Ha the Boks are winners. Victory number one, no defamation, victory number two, see Saturday. Ag please daddy, take us to the ball game! All five, six, seven of us!
Big shoutout to the RFU for helping the ABs with their odds of a win in the weekend. Great distraction for the bok camp. Couple of 1 point wins and a racial issue and these boys will be nicely mentally fatigued.
Quite stunning that the RFU openly defamed Bongi in response. Hope this continues to distract the Bokkies. ABs by 20+
‘The subsequent World Rugby investigation were informed by Tom Curry that he had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player, in the autumn Test 2022. So Bongi has got away with it again. This stinks of a cover up
But surely it cannot just stop here? Can anyone make an accusation, and then when no proof is found, life goes on as if nothing happened? Surely the accuser (whatever he believes or imagines) should accept the “judge’s” decision and make some statement to clear the accused’s name. I mean, can one without any evidence just accuse somebody of racism like that? Here in South Africa, this is a really fckng serious matter. Does Curry realise that?