No Concrete Proof against Mbonambi Following serious claims of racial misconduct during England’s World Cup semi-final against South Africa, World Rugby’s investigation found no adequate evidence to substantiate Tom Curry’s allegations against Bongi Mbonambi, the Springboks hooker.
Mbonambi’s Participation in World Cup Final Confirmed As the case has been concluded due to a lack of supporting evidence, Bongi Mbonambi is set to play in the World Cup final against New Zealand. The incident, which took place during a pivotal match at Stade de France, had Tom Curry confiding in referee Ben O’Keeffe about the alleged racial mistreatment by Mbonambi.
Twickenham Clash Comes into the Spotlight An unexpected turn in the case revealed another probe by World Rugby into an incident from the teams’ November 2022 confrontation at Twickenham. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) reported a parallel incident involving Curry, alleging identical misconduct from Mbonambi during the autumn Test.
World Rugby’s Statement on the Investigation World Rugby reiterated its commitment to a fair sport by stating, “Discrimination allegations are of utmost gravity and demand comprehensive scrutiny.” However, after evaluating all accessible materials—including match recordings, testimonies, and team inputs—no concrete evidence was found to further the allegations against Mbonambi. World Rugby emphasizes that while the allegations by Tom Curry were accepted as genuine, no evidence currently exists to validate them.
RFU’s Response to World Rugby’s Verdict Expressing their discontent with World Rugby’s decision, the RFU highlighted the missed opportunity for an independent disciplinary panel to assess the available evidence. They condemn the unjust online vitriol against Curry and his family for merely spotlighting inappropriate behavior. The RFU stands firm on its stance against all forms of abuse, maintaining that it contradicts the foundational principles of rugby. They further urge the rugby community to report any inappropriate activities in the sport.
Curry and Mbonambi’s Post-match Actions Post-match, when queried about Mbonambi’s alleged inappropriate remarks, Curry affirmed the accusations but refrained from elaborating. The tension was palpable as Mbonambi opted not to exchange pleasantries with Curry, further fueling speculations after the intense match, which saw South Africa emerging victorious thanks to Handre Pollard’s last-minute penalty.