Tom Curry could win his 50th England cap against Argentina on Friday night. Photo: Getty Images/Michael Steele
Tom Curry was subjected to vile and «disgusting» threats after reporting allegations of racism during the World Cup semi-final last Saturday.
Curry claimed Bongi Mbonambi, the South African hooker, called him a «white p… -» during the first half of the Springboks' 16-15 win in Paris.
In the 48 hours since the match, the England flanker was sent messages on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling him a liar, a «racist scrotum» and a «b——«. One user wrote: «Tom Curry should never set foot in South Africa» and many other Springboks supporters called him a fool, using Afrikaans insults.
«After the incident, Rugby Union, England and his club The Sale Sharks rallied around Curry. Alex Sanderson, his director of rugby at Sale Sharks, strongly condemned the abuse.
«I don't understand how people's actions on a rugby field lead to threats,» Sanderson said. «It's disgusting. It's out of order. I don't know the modern world. I'm not on social media for this reason. This is the worst part of the world we live in.»
World Rugby is investigating the incident and is understood to have been informed that the altercation involving Mbonambi occurred while the ball was out of play, despite suggestions that Curry may have simply misheard one of the South African team's calls in Afrikaans.
Richard Wigglesworth, one of Steve Borthwick's assistant coaches, called on World Rugby to «monitor» the issue as closely as possible, stressing that England are fully focused on the game for third place. -off against Argentina on Friday.
Bill Sweeney, the chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, also suggested that Richard Smith, England's senior lawyer, would be an influential figure.
«Because this is a live legal matter, we can't comment too much on it, but it's clear that we will certainly support Tom,» Sweeney said. “But it's in the hands of World Rugby. Richard has been with the team for many years and having a QC at camp is really helpful. He gets all the support he needs. We have provided the necessary declarations.”
Curry could win his 50th cap against the Pumas in England's final World Cup game. Wigglesworth welcomed the 25-year-old's reaction.
«Other players will pass him by,» Wigglesworth said. “Steve [Bortwick] and the management team were all in on it. Despite all this, I am confident that he is getting all the support he needs.
“I'm not sure you could ever put yourself in that position and understand what it's like, but what I I know — the point is that he is an impressive young man who, if selected on Friday, will put everything into that England shirt, as he has done on the other 49 occasions.»
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