World Rugby has responded to a complaint from the RFU and launched an investigation into allegations that Bongi Mbonambi called Tom Curry a “white c***” in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa.
The England flanker approached Ben O’Keeffe, the referee, as Owen Farrell lined up a penalty kick 23 minutes into the game, shortly after he and Mbonambi had been involved in a ruck.
Curry said, “Sir, if their hooker calls me a white c***, what do I do?”
The referee replied, “Nothing, please.” After a pause, he then said, “I’ll be on it,” although it is unclear whether that was a comment to Curry or a reply to an off-mic inquiry from another player.
Mbonambi, who finished the game as South Africa captain, appeared to refuse to shake Curry’s hand after the Springboks had snatched a 16-15 victory.
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The Springboks, who play New Zealand in Saturday’s World Cup final, have not issued a denial of the allegation. They are cooperating with World Rugby’s investigations, via their legal team out in France. Mbonambi, meanwhile, remains in full training with the team.
“World Rugby takes all allegations of discriminatory behaviour extremely seriously,” the governing body said in a statement. “We can confirm that we are formally reviewing the allegation made by England’s Tom Curry’s in relation to the use of discriminatory language during the England versus South Africa Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final on Saturday.
“World Rugby will not be making further comment until the conclusion of the process.”
The review was announced after the window for the independent citing commissioner to bring any disciplinary charges from the game expired on Monday morning.
World Rugby is at the evidence-gathering stage and would hope to get the process dealt with in the next 24 hours, and certainly before the final.
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If no evidence is found to support the allegation, then the review could be a relatively quick process. But the issue has the potential to derail South Africa’s planning for the final. If the incident were to lead to disciplinary action, Mbonambi would be in danger of a ban under law 9.12: “a player must not verbally abuse anyone”. The recommended entry point is six games.
While the Springboks would not comment on the allegation while the investigation is ongoing, they also did not take the chance to deny it outright. “It is being dealt with by World Rugby and SA Rugby at the moment so from my side I can’t really comment on that. I focus on the scrums,” South Africa’s scrum coach Daan Human said.
The South Africans did speak glowingly about Mbonambi’s character on Monday. “He had perfect training this afternoon,” Human said. “Bongi has been part of this group of six years, he started in the last World Cup and he started in the semi-final, so he is very important, like all the other players in our group.
“He is one of the leaders in our group and a great, great guy. I know his kids — my kids always look after his kids when they come to the hotel.
“He is very humble guy, very down to earth like the other players and they should be if they want to play for the Springboks. He is a very calm guy, well-spoken.”
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Jean Kleyn, the lock, added: “He’s an upstanding guy. I don’t think there’s a player in the squad who doesn’t like him.”
The All Blacks defence coach Scott McLeod said if Mbonambi is banned it would have a big impact on South Africa. “If anything came of it, it would be a massive dent for them. He is a leader of their team. When Siya [Kolisi] goes off, he becomes the captain so I imagine it would impact them.”
The Springboks are set to name their team on Thursday. They opted not to call up a specialist replacement hooker when Malcolm Marx was injured after playing only one game in the tournament, which means Mbonambi is the only full-time hooker in the squad. Deon Fourie was picked by the Springboks as a utility forward, having started his career as a hooker before switching to flanker.
Fourie came on in the back row against England. Their third hooking option is Marco van Staden, who is even more of a part-timer in the position. World Rugby rules do not allow teams to replace in the squad a player who is banned.
World Rugby’s regulations outlaw abuse that includes, but is not limited to, comments regarding “religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation”.
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In South Africa it has been speculated that Mbonambi may have used the expression “wit kant” or “white kant” (Afrikaans for “white side”) to identify the English team by the colour of their jerseys.
Joe Marler was given a two-game ban and fined £20,000 in 2016 for calling Samson Lee, the Wales prop, “gypsy boy”. Six Nations initially took no action against the England prop but World Rugby stepped in and charged him with bringing the game into disrepute.
Mathieu Bastareaud was banned for three games in 2018 for calling Sebastian Negri a “f***ing faggot” during a game for Toulon against Benetton. The former France centre apologised on social media and pleaded guilty.
