SOUTH AFRICA star Bongi Mbonambi is set to start in Saturday’s World Cup final against New Zealand.
That’s after World Rugby chiefs dismissed claims he racially abused Tom Curry in last weekend’s semi-final clash.
GettyBongi Mbonami has been cleared of racially abusing England star Tom Curry[/caption]
PAMbonambi is now set to start South Africa’s World Cup final against New Zealand[/caption]
The England ace alleged that Mbonambi had called him a “white c**t” during South Africa’s dramatic narrow win.
But World Rugby has cleared the way for Mbonambi to start this weekend’s final after saying there was “insufficient evidence” for Curry’s claim.
However, it’s noted the flanker made the allegation in good faith.
The Rugby Football Union says it is “deeply disappointed” by World Rugby’s decision.
Curry made his case to ref Ben O’Keeffe during England’s 16-15 defeat on Saturday, saying: “Sir, sir, if their hooker calls me a white c**t what can I do?”
O’Keeffe responded: “Nothing please. I’ll be on it.”
It later emerged that a potential defence could be that Curry misunderstood a comment made by Mbonambi in Afrikaans.
He could have used the term “wit kant” – meaning “white side” in Afrikaans – to tell team-mates that the ball was on the English side of the ruck.
Asked if the South African had “said something he shouldn’t have” after England’s defeat, Curry replied: “Yeah.”
Probed on whether he would say what he had heard, Curry added: “No. It wasn’t cleared up. It doesn’t need to be talked about.
“Listen, I’m not talking about it now.”