Rugby’s world governing physique is investigating after England participant Tom Curry alleged he suffered a racist insult throughout Saturday’s World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa.
Curry informed the referee, Ben O’Keefe, about an incident with South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi at round half-hour of the match on the Stade de France.
There is not any audio accessible of the alleged remark by Mbonambi.
But the Sale flanker can clearly be heard on a recording by way of O’Keeffe’s microphone making the allegation of a racist slur to the New Zealand official within the twenty eighth minute of the match.
He mentioned: “Sir, sir, if their hooker calls me a white **** what do I do?”
O’Keefe replied: “Nothing please.” Then he provides: “I’ll be on it,” although it’s unclear if he’s referring to the particular incident.
World Rugby mentioned in an announcement on Monday that it “takes all allegations of discriminatory behaviour extraordinarily significantly.
“We can confirm that we are formally reviewing the allegation made by England’s Tom Curry in relation to the use of discriminatory language during the England versus South Africa Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final on Saturday.”
South African radio presenter Dan Corder mentioned in a video posted on social media platform, X, that Mbonambi may have been talking in Afrikaans, which the Springboks incessantly achieve this that opponents cannot perceive.
South Africa had already mentioned they had been trying into the allegation.
When requested after the match if Mbonambi had mentioned one thing he should not have executed, Curry replied “yeah”, though he declined to disclose what was mentioned.
Mbonambi refused to shake Curry’s hand on the finish of the competition in Paris, which the Springboks received with a penalty two minutes from the top.
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England – who had till Monday morning to lodge an official grievance with the citing officer – have declined to remark.
If World Rugby’s inquiry triggers disciplinary proceedings they’re prone to fall beneath the banner of ‘bringing the sport into disrepute’, which may end up in a spread of sanctions together with a suspension and/or a high quality.
No indication has been given of how lengthy the investigation will take, complicating South Africa’s build-up to the World Cup last, however it’s understood there’s a need for it to be dropped at a conclusion as quickly as doable.
Source: information.sky.com”