South African Bongi Mbonambi accused of racial insult towards Englishman Tom Curry

South African hooker Bongi Mbonambi is the subject of an internal investigation at the Springboks for alleged racial insult towards Englishman Tom Curry during the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday, the South African management announced, Sunday October 22.

During the match won by the Springboks (16-15) at the Stade de France on Saturday, Mbonambi would have treated Curry, according to the very serious English newspaper The Guardian [en anglais]of “White cunt” (which is not directly translatable into French, but whose meaning is “white cunt” Or “white motherfucker” according to The Larousse). After about half an hour of play, the English flanker reported the facts to referee Ben O’Keefe, asking him what he should say. “Nothing, please.”O’Keefe told him.

“We are aware of the allegation, which we take very seriously,” declared the South African rugby federation on Sunday, specifying that it was “reviewing the available evidence”. After the match, when asked if he had any problem with anything Mbonambi said, Curry replied: “Yeah”adding that “it (was) not worth talking about”. The South African hooker appears to have refused to shake his hand at the final whistle.

The English have until Monday morning to contact the rugby authorities. Sanctions are rarely taken against players for words spoken on the field. In 2016, the Englishman Joe Marler was however suspended two matches for comments addressed to the Welshman Samson Lee. The previous year, South African Jacques Potgieger was fined for a homophobic insult during a Super Rugby match.