{"id":296589,"date":"2023-11-11T21:39:08","date_gmt":"2023-11-11T21:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=296589"},"modified":"2023-11-11T21:39:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-11T21:39:08","slug":"exclusive-tom-curry-stands-by-his-accusation-but-wants-to-move-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/rugby-union\/exclusive-tom-curry-stands-by-his-accusation-but-wants-to-move-on\/","title":{"rendered":"EXCLUSIVE: Tom Curry stands by his accusation but wants to move on"},"content":{"rendered":"
The wound on the bridge of Tom Curry\u2019s nose has just about healed up. The same goes for the six stitches above his right eye. \u2018I\u2019m going to have to wear head-tape for a while,\u2019 he says, taking a seat in the team room at Sale\u2019s training base. \u2018It\u2019s just superficial, though, isn\u2019t it?\u2019<\/p>\n
He took time to rest up after his arrival back in the UK last week, dropping his bronze medal at his parents\u2019 house before checking into a hotel in Knutsford with his girlfriend and their miniature dachshund, Toby.<\/p>\n
The cuts and bruises are easing, although the pain of England\u2019s World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa will live with him for a while. But there is one other thing he wants to address before he leaves the bittersweet campaign in France behind him.<\/p>\n
\u2018First of all, I\u2019m extremely proud of the group,\u2019 says the flanker. \u2018Injuring my ankle before the first World Cup warm-up game, my red card against Argentina. It wasn\u2019t the best start but it was growing. You could feel it.<\/p>\n
\u2018A lot of things were thrown our way but we improved each game. Playing against South Africa, we had a game plan that we stuck to and you could feel a real sense of everyone coming together. It felt similar to that New Zealand semi-final in 2019. It wasn\u2019t always perfect but you felt like we were pushing towards something. It was just a shame we couldn\u2019t get it across the line.<\/p>\n
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England star Tom Curry has reflected on a bittersweet World Cup in France to Mail Sport<\/p>\n
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Curry admits England’s World Cup semi-final loss to South Africa will live with him for a while<\/p>\n
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Curry stands by his allegation\u00a0Bongi Mbonambi, left, called him a\u00a0\u2018white c***\u2019 in the semi-final<\/p>\n
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The England flanker reported the incident to referee\u00a0Ben O’Keeffe leading to an investigation<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Curry had also alleged he was abused by Mbonambi in an Autumn Nations match in 2022<\/p>\n
\u2018The disappointment of the semi-final, being a point away, it\u2019s sad. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. We had a lot of doubters, so to come away with a bronze medal, I couldn\u2019t be prouder. Those challenging moments are the ones that you\u2019re grateful for. You want it to be plain sailing, but it isn\u2019t.\u2019<\/p>\n
The issue that Curry wants to address is the incident with Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi. Curry reported Mbonambi to the referee during England\u2019s semi-final in Paris when he heard the South African call him a \u2018white c***\u2019 during a break in play. It is also alleged to have happened last year.<\/p>\n
Throughout his career, Curry has never been an individual who seeks the limelight or courts headlines. He is here on his own accord, to give his own version of events rather than sit on his hands as his loved ones are dragged into the complex and toxic narrative.<\/p>\n
\u2018I didn\u2019t really want to speak about it from the start,\u2019 Curry says. \u2018For me, on both occasions, the ball was out of play. Me and Bongi were talking and there\u2019s no misunderstanding from my part. I went to the referee straight away. I heard what I heard. That\u2019s all I really want to say about it and I won\u2019t really be talking about it again.\u2019<\/p>\n
In short, Curry stands by what he first reported. Mbonambi claimed this week he was saying \u2018wit kant\u2019 \u2013 Afrikaans for \u2018white side\u2019 \u2013 and accused England of being \u2018unprofessional\u2019 after they criticised World Rugby for not launching a thorough investigation.<\/p>\n
The situation was distastefully mocked by the South African government and Mbonambi was even presented with a jersey that derided the allegations. Curry\u2019s family were subsequently subjected to online abuse, leaving the 25-year-old in a position he wants to quickly move on from.<\/p>\n
\u2018It was tough for my family, my girlfriend and my brother. It was a tough experience but it is what it is. The investigation\u2019s been done and that\u2019s all I want to say about it.\u2019<\/p>\n
Curry watched South Africa\u2019s final victory over New Zealand with his team-mates in Paris. He offered his congratulations to the Springboks \u2013 a team he has faced 11 times \u2013 as they became the first country to lift the Webb Ellis Cup four times.<\/p>\n
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South Africa beat England in the semi-finals before edging New Zealand in a thrilling final<\/p>\n
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South Africa, captained by\u00a0Siya Kolisi, became the first nation to win the World Cup four times<\/p>\n
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Curry’s allegations were mocked when Mbonambi was presented with a shirt saying ‘wen kant\u2019 \u2013 Afrikaans for \u2018winning side\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018It was a great game of rugby and credit to South Africa. We watched it in a big hall in Paris. A bar, basically. They put it up on a big screen for us and it was a double denim theme for the team!<\/p>\n
\u2018It was a bit weird to watch. I dipped in and out. Having a few South African lads here at Sale, playing with the likes of Faf [de Klerk], you can see there\u2019s a lot more that goes into their rugby than what you just see on the pitch.<\/p>\n
\u2018Rugby\u2019s very special out there. When you go and play there, it is different. I love playing against South Africa and playing out there. They just love it, don\u2019t they? The way rugby brings their nation together is really special. The celebrations over there are brilliant.\u2019<\/p>\n
A red card for All Blacks captain Sam Cane was one of the biggest talking points during the final. Like Curry, the flanker was sent off for a high shot. Curry returned to Manchester with no complaints about his red card.<\/p>\n
\u2018Personally, with mine, I think the ref got the right call,\u2019 he says. \u2018I need to be lower. I did my tackle school and it made me a lot more conscious about dropping my height. Safety\u2019s safety. As players we just have to adapt. The referees did a great job under a lot of pressure. The main thing is consistency. That\u2019s the crux of it.\u2019<\/p>\n
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The England star received online abuse following the allegations but now wants to move on\u00a0<\/p>\n
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He revealed the abuse received online had been tough on his girlfriend, as well as his family<\/p>\n
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Curry admitted he had no complaints over his red card for a high tackle early in the World Cup<\/p>\n
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Curry stressed England were proud of their bronze medals and will target the 2027 World Cup<\/p>\n
The consolation for Curry is that he will have another chance. He has plenty of miles left in the tank and will have another shot at the World Cup in 2027, as Steve Borthwick prepares to launch the new four-year cycle.<\/p>\n
\u2018We wanted to celebrate some of the lads\u2019 careers. Jonny May, Courtney Lawes, Ben Youngs, Dan Cole \u2013 they\u2019re magnificent England players who will be legends. To celebrate their careers is important but we\u2019ll keep moving forward. It\u2019s important to keep that momentum.<\/p>\n
\u2018You\u2019d like to think you could complete the collection at some point. Bronze, silver and hopefully gold. It\u2019s something to hold onto. A lot of work\u2019s gone into that medal. You look at it and see how much work has gone in but also use it as motivation to kick on and get better.\u2019<\/p>\n
The same goes for Sale. Curry has a runner\u2019s up medal from last season\u2019s Premiership final and he is desperate to go one better. And he hopes to do so with minimal fuss, leaving the unsavoury events of the past few weeks behind him.<\/p>\n