Tom Curry ‘is a VICTIM of a situation who hasn’t been able to have his voice heard’, insists Steve Borthwick – as he defends England star for ‘doing nothing wrong’ after South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi is cleared by World Rugby for alleged ‘white c***’ slur

• Tom Curry reported the alleged comment during Rugby World Cup semi-final
• The RFU alleged Curry was previously abused in a 2022 Autumn Nations match 
• World Rugby has ruled there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges 
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

England head coach Steve Borthwick has slammed World Rugby for concluding their investigation into allegations of racist abuse towards Tom Curry, without allowing him to have his say properly.

Bongi Mbonambi will face no charges in relation to Curry’s complaint in the World Cup semi-final last Saturday that the South Africa hooker had called him a ‘white c**t’. The global governing body have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to take any action, either from the alleged incident at the Stade de France or a similar alleged outburst at Twickenham last November.

But after the RFU issued a powerful statement in defence of their player, Borthwick once again spoke up in support of Curry – and condemned the process overseen by World Rugby. ‘Let’s be clear, Tom Curry has done nothing wrong,’ he said.

‘We have a victim of a situation who has not been able to have his voice heard. By World Rugby’s decision, they have denied the victim of the situation, Tom Curry, to have his voice heard. That’s where the disappointment really comes in. Somebody has said something to Tom Curry, Tom’s reported it, he’s been in a situation where World Rugby made a decision not to allow the opportunity for the victim’s voice to be heard.’

‘Tom has been incredible all week, as he always is. He is an incredible professional and a real hard, tough rugby player, but I think everyone needs support. The players and management have ensured that Tom has been getting plenty of support in this situation.’

Steve Borthwick has condemned World Rugby for not allowing Tom Curry to say his side following his report of an alleged racial slur by South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi towards him

On Thursday, World Rugby has closed an investigation into South African star Mbonambi

Curry had reported the alleged comment to referee Ben O’Keeffe during the semi-final

The RFU alleged Curry was also abused by Mbonambi in an Autumn Nations match in 2022

Asked if he felt the RFU might take the matter further, Borthwick added: ‘We’ll leave that. The RFU have been pretty categorical with their statement. We’ve got a game tomorrow night and we’re getting on with that. 

‘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.

‘What is important to say right now, in my role here, is that discrimination has got no part in what we do. No part whatsoever. The RFU statement makes that clear and we stand by that as well.’

England lock Maro Itoje also expressed solidarity with Curry and praised his bravery for raising a complaint which has led to a vicious backlash against him. 

‘I think Tom has been courageous to do what he’s done in the manner he’s done it, through proper channels, conducting himself in the manner he should be proud of,’ he said. ‘Definitely, as team-mates, we are proud of him.

‘To do that isn’t easy. To make a statement like that isn’t easy. To call out stuff like that isn’t easy. As you’ve seen this week, when you do something courageous like that, you put yourself out there. 

‘We’ve tried to be there for him in any way he needs. But he’s a strong man, he has a strong personality, a strong will, and he’s been great throughout the week.’

When asked if it had been troubling to see the amount of vitriol Curry has been subjected to, especially on social media, Itoje added: ‘Tom is the innocent party, he has done nothing wrong and he is the victim of the situation. For him to have this abuse is disgraceful.’

Borthwick insisted that his back-rower had done ‘nothing wrong’ in reporting the alleged slur

Earlier, the RFU reacted with fury after World Rugby announced that no charges will be made against Mbonambi. Within minutes of the global governing body revealing there was insufficient evidence to take any action the 32-year-old, the English union issued a strongly-worded statement. It demonstrated the mood of anger and outrage within the Red Rose set-up and RFU about both the investigative process and the toxic social media commentary.

The statement read: ‘The RFU fully support Tom Curry in raising the racially abusive behaviour he experienced whilst playing for England against South Africa. During the match between England and South Africa on Saturday 21st October 2023, Tom Curry reported to the referee that he had been racially abused by Mbongeni (Bongi) Mbonambi.

‘The subsequent World Rugby investigation were informed by Tom Curry that he had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player, in the autumn Test 2022. World Rugby have today announced their decision not to bring charges in respect of either incident.

‘The RFU are deeply disappointed by the decision taken by World Rugby. The decision not to put the evidence before an Independent Disciplinary Panel has denied the disciplinary process the opportunity to hear Tom Curry’s voice and to independently assess his account of these serious events, together with the other available evidence.

‘In their continued full support of Tom, the RFU together with the England squad, condemn the disgusting abuse he and his family has received on social media as a result of his having had the courage to put unacceptable behaviour that has no place in society or on the rugby field, in the public eye.

‘Abuse of any kind is not acceptable and goes against the core values of rugby. It is important that it is safe and acceptable for everyone involved in rugby union to raise concerns, and the RFU continue to encourage everyone to report any unacceptable behaviour in the game.’

This damning riposte from the RFU was released just minutes after World Rugby revealed that no action would be taken against Mbonambi due to a lack of evidence. In announcing as much, they sought to emphasise that Curry had acted appropriately in making his complaint.

Maro Itoje has defender team-mate Curry – praising his bravery for coming forward over slur

Their statement read: ‘World Rugby has undertaken a review of allegations made by England’s Tom Curry in relation to the use of discriminatory language by South Africa’s Mbongeni Mbonambi during the England versus South Africa Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final on Saturday, along with a further allegation, about a previous match in the Autumn Nations Series 2022.

‘Any allegation of discrimination is taken extremely seriously by World Rugby, warranting a thorough investigation. Having considered all available evidence , the governing body has determined that there is insufficient evidence at this time to proceed with charges. Therefore, the matter is deemed closed unless additional evidence comes to light.

‘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 or malicious.’

Mbonambi has been named to start for South Africa in the World Cup Final against New Zealand at the Stade de France on Saturday. Curry had already been included in the England line-up for the bronze final against Argentina at the same venue on Friday night.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi attempted to ease the tension between South Africa and England this week when he was asked about the backlash aimed at Curry and his family, and said: ‘I have spoken to him, I sent him a message. He is someone I respect.

‘We can take it as players, when it comes to us directly it’s fine, but when it comes to your family it’s totally different and that’s exactly what he said to me.

‘It’s the one part of the game we really don’t enjoy. I hope obviously it stops and he was able to prepare as much as he could for the game that he’s playing tomorrow. I have let him know we are supporting him, we are thinking of him.’

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