South African player Mbonambi accused of racial insult – Libération

2023-10-22 17:10:59

2023 Rugby World Cup in FrancefileSouth 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 which was held SATURDAY. The South African management announced this Sunday, October 22, that they were taking the matter “very seriously.”

Flex, bind…insult? The victory of the South Africans against England on Saturday October 21 evening in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup (16-15) is marred by controversy. According to a press release from South African management, 32-year-old hooker Bongi Mbonambi is the subject of an internal investigation at the Springboks for alleged racial insults towards Englishman Tom Curry. In the 23rd minute of play, he would have called the third English wing row a “white bitch” or “white cunt” in the original version. Tom Curry then approached match referee Ben O’Keefe, asking him what he should say to Mbonambi. “Nothing, please,” O’Keefe replied.

“We are aware of the allegation, which we take very seriously,” the South African rugby federation said in a statement this Sunday, October 22, specifying that it was “in the process of examining the available evidence.” At the end of the match, when he was interviewed and asked if Mbonambi’s comments had caused him a problem, the Englishman replied a brief “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.

Sanctions against players for words spoken on the pitch are rare. 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. Mbonambi is the only professional hooker in the South African squad since the injury to Malcom Marx, who was replaced numerically by flyhalf Handré Pollard. South Africa will face New Zealand on Saturday in an attempt to clinch a fourth world title. As for the English, who will play the match for third place on Friday October 27, they have until Monday morning to contact the rugby authorities.