World Rugby CLOSE investigation into 'white ****' slur at World Cup

10/26/2023 Rugby Union

BREAKING NEWS: World Rugby CLOSE investigation into ‘white ****’ slur at the World Cup because there is ‘insufficient evidence’ to prosecute South Africa star Bongi Mbonambi despite Tom Curry’s claims

  • Curry reported the alleged comment during the Rugby World Cup semi-final
  • World Rugby confirmed it had also investigated a separate complaint from 2022
  • The governing body has ruled there was insufficient evidence to proceed
  • Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

World Rugby have announced they have closed an investigation into claims South Africa star Bongi Mbonambi called England’s Tom Curry a ‘white ****’ at the Rugby World Cup.

Curry complained that he had been called a ‘white ****’ by Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi during the national team’s agonising 16-15 semi-final defeat at the Stade de France last Saturday.  

The 25-year-old approached referee Ben O’Keeffe to report the alleged comment during the match.

World Rugby confirmed it had investigated Curry’s complaint, as well as a further allegation brought forward from a previous match in the Autumn Nations in 2022.

‘Any allegation of discrimination is taken extremely seriously by World Rugby, warranting a thorough investigation,’ a World Rugby statement read.

Mbonambi can play in the Rugby World Cup final this weekend after 

‘Having considered all the available evidence, including match footage, audio and evidence from both teams, the governing body has determined there is insufficient evidence at this time to proceed with charges.

‘Therefore the matter is deemed closed unless additional evidence comes to light.’

World Rugby has also condemned online abuse directed at Curry and Mbonambi following the incident.

‘It is important to note that World Rugby accepts that Tom Curry made the allegations in good faith, and that there is no suggestion that the allegation was deliberately false of malicious,’ the statement continued.

‘World Rugby is also concerned by the social media abuse that both players have been subjected to this week.

‘There is no place in rugby or society for discrimination, abuse or hate speech, and World Rugby urges fans to embrace the sport’s values of respect, integrity and solidarity.’

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