2023-10-23 13:56:24
New twist in this controversy which marred the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup. After the accusation of racial insult targeting Bongi Mbonambi during the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup between England and South Africa, World Rugby announced that it “takes very seriously all allegations relating to discriminatory behavior”.
In a press release published this Monday, the body explains: “We are able to confirm that we have officially examined the allegation made by English player Tom Curry regarding the use of discriminatory remarks during the semi-final. -final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup between England and South Africa, this Saturday”. She also affirms that she will not make “any comments before the conclusion of the procedure”.
As a reminder, the third row of the XV de la Rose, Tom Curry, complained of having been the target of a racial insult from his South African opponent, Bongi Mbonambi in the first period. “Sir, sir, if the hooker just called me a white cunt, what should I do? », Asked the Englishman to the referee of the match Ben O’Keeffe. “Nothing, please.” I’ll take care of it,” the man with the whistle replied immediately.
What risque Mbonambi?
According to the regulations put in place by World Rugby, article 9.12 provides for a minimum of 6 match suspensions, which can go up to 52, for a player who verbally attacks another player. “A player must not verbally attack anyone. Verbal aggression includes, among other things, aggression based on the person’s religion, color, nationality or ethnic origin and sexual orientation. Suffice to say that if the commission responsible for investigating confirms this racial insult, Bongi Mbonambi could miss the World Cup final against New Zealand on Saturday.
For the Springboks, this would be a hard blow because Mbonambi is the only professional hooker in the South African group since the injury and withdrawal of Malcom Marx, who was replaced numerically by fly-half Handré Pollard. He would be replaced in the starting XV by Deon Fourie, a third line. It would then remain to find a replacement hooker, among the pillars.
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.
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