Springbok Bongi Mbonambi attacks England, denies race claim

Bongi Mbonambi has hit out at England for being ‘unprofessional’ and denied he racially abused Tom Curry at the Rugby World Cup.

Bongi Mbonambi with the Webb Ellis Cup on arrival back in South Africa after the World Cup. Picture: AFP

Bongi Mbonambi has hit out at England for being “unprofessional” and denied he racially abused Tom Curry at the Rugby World Cup.

Curry approached Ben O’Keeffe, the referee, in the first half of England’s 16-15 semi-final defeat by South Africa last month, asking what he should do if his opponent referred to him as a “white c...”. South Africa supporters claimed that Mbonambi had been saying “wit kant”, meaning “white side” in Afrikaans.

World Rugby investigated the accusation and said there was insufficient evidence to support the claim. The governing body added that Curry, who has several South African teammates at Sale Sharks, had made the allegation in good faith.

“It is a very sad thing when you live in a first-world country [England], you think the rest of the world speaks English,” Mbonambi told the BBC, in his first public comments about the incident. “It was unprofessional on their part. They could have gone on a website and looked for an English dictionary and looked for the word in Afrikaans. People understood [in South Africa] but obviously their side was misunderstood.”

Tom Curry of England, a ‘victim who has not been able to have his voice heard’. Picture: Getty Images.

Mbonambi, 32, was free to play in the final against New Zealand, which the Springboks won 12-11, though he was replaced in the fourth minute because of an injury. Last week Geordin Hill-Lewis, the mayor of Cape Town, presented Mbonambi with a jersey that said “wenkant” (winning side) across the front.

The controversy dominated the build-up to the final. Steve Borthwick, the England head coach, said that Curry was a “victim who has not been able to have his voice heard”.

The RFU defended its player, who alleged that the same phrase had been directed towards him during England’s defeat by South Africa at Twickenham 12 months ago, and condemned the “disgusting” abuse Curry and his family had received on social media.

SA Rugby defended Mbonambi after the investigation ended. “Any form of racism is abhorrent to SA Rugby and the Springbok team, whose purpose is to do everything in its power to assist in uniting our diverse and multicultural nation,” the governing body said. “Bongi is an experienced, respected and decorated Test player and, needless to say, denied the allegations from the outset. SA Rugby has absolute faith in the honesty and integrity of Bongi.”

“I’m glad it was well taken care of [by World Rugby] and that is all in the past now,” Mbonambi said. “But I have never racially swore at him.”

Regarding his relationship with Curry, Mbonambi said: “I don’t know him at all.”

THE TIMES