Скачать или смотреть World Rugby launch formal investigation bongi mbonambi after Tom Curry accused him of racial slur

World Rugby launch formal investigation into South Africa star bongi mbonambi after England’s Tom Curry accused him of racial slur


WORLD rugby chiefs are launching a formal investigation into racism claims made during England's semi-final defeat to South Africa.

The Red Rose were narrowly beaten 16-15 by the current champions in Paris on Saturday night.

During the game, Tom Curry accused opponent Bongi Mbonambi of calling him a “white ”.

The Sale Sharks star made the allegations directly to referee Ben O'Keefe.

Curry went up to the official and said: "Sir, Sir, if their hooker calls me a white what can I do?"

O'Keeffe responded: "Nothing please. I’ll be on it."

The conversation was picked up by the "ref link" microphone.

Both players did not shake hands at the end of the game as a brawl erupted.

Curry was asked if the Springbok had "said something he shouldn’t have" with the England man responding: "Yeah."

Probed on whether he would say what he had heard, he added: "No."

But it has emerged that a potential defence could be that Curry misunderstood a comment made by Mbonambi in Afrikaans.

He could have used the term “wit ” - meaning “white side” in Afrikaans - to tell team-mates that the ball was on the English side of the ruck.

Rules state that the RFU had a 24-hour window to refer the incident to the match commissioner.

World Rugby chiefs are now under pressure to ban Mbonambi from the final against New Zealand on Saturday night.

In a statement, SA Rugby said: “We are aware of the allegation, which we take very seriously and are reviewing the available evidence.

“We will engage with Bongi if anything is found to substantiate the claim.”