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Bongi Mbonambi accused England of adopting a \u201cfirst world\u201d mentality following Tom Curry\u2019s allegation that he was racially abused by the South Africa hooker.<\/p>\n
The England flanker had complained to Australian referee Ben O\u2019Keeffe that Mbonambi called him a \u201cwhite c—\u201d 27 minutes into their semi-final match, which South Africa won 16-15 on October 21 in Paris. The Rugby Football Union followed up Curry\u2019s allegation with a complaint to World Rugby, who found there was \u201cinsufficient evidence\u201d to warrant disciplinary action against Mbonambi, who went to start the World Cup final victory over New Zealand. Mbonambi says that the allegations were \u201cunprofessional\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking for the first time since the incident, Mbonambi, 32, claims that Curry\u2019s allegation was a misunderstanding because was speaking Afrikaans. Although he did not specify which term he used, there have been suggestions that he was saying \u201cwit kant\u201d, meaning \u201cwhite side\u201d. Mbonambi says that he \u201cdoes not know him [Curry] at all\u201d but says that the RFU\u2019s follow-up complaint smacks of a colonial mindset.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it is a very sad thing when you live in a first-world country [England], you think the rest of the world speaks English,\u201d Mbonambi told BBC Sport Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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. I\u2019m glad it was well taken care of [by World Rugby] and that is all in the past now. But I have never racially swore at him.\u201d<\/p>\n
World Rugby investigated all available video and audio as well as taking written submissions from both teams but have closed the investigation unless \u201cadditional evidence comes to light\u201d. England alleged that this was not a one-off and that Curry was also abused by Mbonambi during the side\u2019s autumn international match in 2022.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
South Africa\u2019s Trevor Nyakane, left, and Mbongeni Mbonambi celebrate the World Cup win.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP<\/cite><\/p>\n Head coach Steve Borthwick launched a stinging attack on the sport\u2019s governing body after Curry was unable to deliver his evidence in person.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have got a victim of a situation who has not been able to have his voice heard and they [World Rugby] have denied the victim of the situation, Tom Curry, to have his voice heard,\u201d Borthwick said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s where the disappointment really comes in.<\/p>\n \u201cI think everything we have done, and everything Tom has done, has been in the right way. World Rugby have come to this decision, which is incredibly disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n Curry and his family have received threats and abuse since the allegations came to light, which World Rugby says that it is \u201cconcerned\u201d by, while Springbok captain Siya Kolisi expressed sympathy with the England flanker.<\/p>\n South Africa, meanwhile, have continued to make light of the situation, making frequent references to \u201ckant\u201d.<\/p>\n The latest came in the Springboks\u2019 trophy parade in Cape Town when Mbonambi was presented with a shirt by the city\u2019s mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, with the word \u201cwenkant\u201d across the front, translating from Afrikaans as \u201cwinning side\u201d.<\/p>\n