Tom Curry on Bongi Mbonambi racism scandal: 'I heard what I heard — no misunderstanding'

Tom Curry is back in the Premier League club sale following England's World Cup campaign. Photo: Getty Images/Julian Finney

Tom Curry further slammed South African hooker Bongi Mbonambi for calling him a «white twit», with the England flanker speaking out on the matter for the first time since the World Cup semi-final defeat.

< p>Curry, 25, complained to referee Ben O'Keefe that Mbonambi had racially abused him in the 27th minute of the Springboks' semi-final win on October 21 in Paris.

«I didn't actually do it. I want to talk about it from the beginning,» Currie told MailOnline. «For me, in both cases the ball was out of play. Bongi and I have spoken and there is no misunderstanding on my part.

“I immediately turned to the referee. I heard what I heard. That's all I really want to say about it and I won't say any more about it.»

The Rugby Football Union followed up on Currie's claim by filing a complaint with World Rugby, which found there was «insufficient evidence» to justify disciplinary action against Mbonambi, who started in the Springboks' World Cup final victory over New Zealand.

Mbonambi this week said the accusations were «unprofessional» and accused England of adopting a «first world» mentality, but Currie insists the accusations were genuine. He also alleged a similar incident occurred during a meeting between the two sides in November 2022, which World Rugby also refused to investigate due to lack of evidence.

The aftermath of the incident resulted in Currie's family being subjected to abuse in Internet. , and Mbonambi, 32, said the charge against the England flanker was a misunderstanding because the hooker spoke Afrikaans.

Although he did not specify which term he used, there were suggestions that he meant «vit cant», meaning «white side».

Mbonambi said he “doesn’t know [Curry] at all” but that the RFU’s subsequent complaint smacked of colonial thinking.

Curry's allegations were ridiculed in South Africa, with Mbonambi given a T-shirt ridiculing Curry's testimony.

«It was hard for my family, my girlfriend and my brother,» Curry added. “It was a tough experience, but it is what it is. The investigation is complete and that's all I have to say about it.”