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Sale Sharks statement: ‘Disgusting abuse directed at Tom Curry’

(Photo by Julian Finney/World Rugby via Getty Images

Sake Sharks have issued a statement in support of Tom Curry after the England back-rower and his family were subjected to “disgusting abuse” after he reported being on the receiving end of alleged discriminatory language during last Saturday night’s Rugby World Cup semi-final versus South Africa.

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It emerged in the aftermath of England’s dramatic 16-15 loss to South Africa at Stade de France that Curry had approached referee Ben O’Keeffe midway through the opening half and asked the official. “Sir, if their hooker calls me a white c***, what do I do?” O’Keeffe replied: “Nothing, please. I’ll be on it.”

Curry opted to stay silent in the post-game mixed zone when asked about what had happened, but it emerged on Monday that World Rugby were formally reviewing the allegation in relation to the use of discriminatory language by South African hooker Bongi Mbonambi.

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    That situation ignited a heap of negative social media commentary about Curry and his Gallagher Premiership club decided to act on Wednesday, calling out the abuse and issuing its full support for their player.

    “Sale Sharks’ owners, players, coaches and staff are absolutely appalled by the nature and level of disgusting abuse directed at Tom Curry and his family in relation to an incident in the England vs South Africa World Cup semi-final,” read the statement.

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    “Everyone at the club stands fully and proudly behind Tom and we look forward to welcoming him back to Carrington.”

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    Comments

    24 Comments
    E
    EV 645 days ago

    The white Afrikaner community, otherwise known as the ‘white c*nts’ is 100% behind Bongi.


    As a matter of fact, the ‘white c*nts’ take great offense to being associated with Curry, who would be better described as a ‘P*es’ by Bongi.


    The ‘white c*nts’ will be cheering for Bongi in the final.


    That’s right Curry. The final.


    R
    Ruggerhead 645 days ago

    Where there’s smoke there’s usually fire. I’m just not sure why WR is letting this drag on. Just ban/don’t ban the guy so we can move on to focussing on the final.

    J
    JK 645 days ago

    Think this reaction to abuse is over exaggerated. Most of the abuse is generated from anonymous online posters, who should be ignored. Online abuse of sporting stars has been pandemic for many years now! How did we survive before internet?

    F
    Flankly 645 days ago

    Abuse is unacceptable, of course.


    Does anyone know, has Curry confirmed the moment in the game at which this was supposed to have happened? If not then the absence of that information should be a flashing red light for the thoughtful observer.


    Note to the World Rugby PR team:

    Transparency earns trust. The longer you delay informing the public of the moment in the game in which the incident was alleged to have taken place, the more people will assume that it didn’t. And the less people will trust your ultimate assessment of what happened.


    Also, by the way, you can’t find a way for everyone to look good out of this. The three choices are that we conclude Curry is 1/ a victim, 2/ a fool or 3/ a troublemaker.

    J
    JL 645 days ago

    Just a note. WR PR team is RugbyPass. It wholly owns RP and hence why RP’s reporting on this matter has been extremely slanted and suspect. I may be wrong, but it’s a sentiment shared by many, including the South African management team.

    J
    Johnny 645 days ago

    Cry me a river 😂

    J
    JL 645 days ago

    No player deserves abuse. But there seems to be no sympathy for Bongi Mbonambi who has now been called a racist which is gunpowder in a deeply racialised country like SA. If it is true that Curry referenced an altercation in December 2022, and that nothing actually happened last week, then there must be legal repercussions. A premeditated accusation against Bongi could only have been designed to “provoke” him into doing something worthy of a yellow card. I really hope that wasn’t the plan because that would be extremely problematic.

    R
    RJ 645 days ago

    What are you talking about? He clearly said something that sounded like Wh!te C**t…


    Now, our SA brothas have educated us on how he was speaking another language, and it makes complete sense.


    I fully understand why Curry thought it was what he reported to the ref, I’d have thought the same. And I fully accept that it wasn’t what he said.


    Curry didn’t speak about it again after he said it to the ref, he’s remained professional. He’s not complained about any online abuse although I’ve personally seen hundreds if not thousands of comments by SA fans. His club has called it out.


    I don’t blame Curry, I don’t blame the player, I don’t even blame most of the SA fans who have lived in a racial hotbed for so long. I’m just happy he should be cleared, can play, and SA can be at full strength for the final.

    B
    Blanco 645 days ago

    Where are you getting this information? Is this part of the rumour mill that fuelled the attacks on Curry?

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