PARIS – South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi is the subject of an investigation by his own team management and could be cited by England over an alleged racial slur aimed at Tom Curry, with the incident happening during the Springboks’ victory in the Rugby World Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Mbonambi is the Springboks’ only specialist hooker due to Malcolm Marx’s tournament-ending injury, although converted back-row forward Deon Fourie has covered from the bench.
The 32-year-old is alleged to have addressed England back-row forward Curry with “you white (followed by an expletive)”.
Governing body World Rugby said on Monday it had launched an official investigation, adding that it “takes all allegations of discriminatory behaviour extremely seriously”.
Flanker Curry approached referee Ben O’Keeffe about half an hour into Saturday’s hard-fought match in Paris – won 16-15 by title holders South Africa – to report the alleged comment and asked what he should do in response.
“Sir, sir, if their hooker calls me a white c**t, what do I do?” he was heard on recording via the referee’s microphone as saying. “Nothing, please,” replied O’Keeffe.
Curry was asked after South Africa had edged England by the slimmest of margins to reach the final whether Mbonambi, who also appeared to refuse to shake the England player’s hand at the end of the match, had said something he had taken issue with.
“Yeah,” replied the 25-year-old, who was visibly shaken, before adding that “it does not need to be talked about”.
England head coach Steve Borthwick declined to comment on the incident but the team are able to lodge a request for a review.
South Africa Rugby, meanwhile, said on Sunday that it would look into the matter.
“We are aware of the allegation, which we take very seriously, and are reviewing the available evidence,” it said. “We will engage with Bongi if anything is found to substantiate the claim.”
Verbal abuse in rugby is rarely penalised, although England prop Joe Marler and South African forward Jacques Potgieter have been punished in the past.
Marler received a two-match ban for remarks addressed to Wales’ Samson Lee in 2016 and Potgieter was fined for an on-field homophobic slur in a Super Rugby game in 2015.
The Springboks can ill afford to be without Mbonambi, who was the Man of the Match in the quarter-final win over hosts France, for Saturday’s final with fellow three-time champions New Zealand.
He was also the stand-in captain for the Springboks on Saturday after Siya Kolisi was substituted in the second half. AFP, REUTERS
