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England Rugby Player Accuses Springbok Rival of Racial Slur During World Cup Semifinal

Published October 23, 2023
1 years ago

Tensions are high after Saturday's Rugby World Cup semifinal, in which England's Tom Curry made a serious allegation against Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi. After the heated match that South Africa narrowly won 16-15, Curry reported that Mbonambi directed a racial slur his way, a claim the South African team takes "very seriously".



In an exchange heard on the ref mic, Curry asked New Zealand official Ben O’Keeffe how to respond to Mbonambi's alleged racial slur. O’Keeffe's response indicated that he would handle any such complaint. So far, no evidence of the alleged remark has surfaced in public audio records.


The claim further intensified an already contentious match that saw both teams on edge. Other notable incidents include England's Manu Tuilagi earning a penalty for grabbing Bok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach by the throat post-whistle, and a heated exchange between Owen Farrell and Willie le Roux post-final whistle.


Curry did not provide further details in the post-match discussion, only confirming that Mbonambi made a remark he thought inappropriate. However, the language barrier and similarity between an offensive UK term and the Afrikaans word for "side" may have led to a misunderstanding.



The Springbok management has released a statement acknowledging both the severity of the allegations and their commitment to a thorough investigation. While no party has commented further, England's head coach Steve Borthwick and Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids withheld comments, pending investigation.


Adding to the strain, Mbonambi rejected a handshake offer from Curry, causing a stir and raising questions about Curry's behavior, famously involved in unsavoury incidents in his past. After the match, England has up to 24 hours to refer any incident to the match citing commissioner for investigation.


The situation presents an unwelcome distraction as the Springboks gear up for next weekend's RWC 2023 final against the All Blacks. Mbonambi, as the only recognised hooker in the squad and a regular on-field leader, plays a key role in the team's tournament fate.


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