Mbonambi is the Springboks’ only specialist hooker due to Malcom Marx’s tournament-ending injury, although converted back row forward Deon Fourie has covered from the bench

England may cite South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi for allegedly using a racial slur against Tom Curry during the Springboks’ triumph in the Rugby World Cup semi-final. Mbonambi is the focus of an investigation by his own colleagues.

Due to Malcom Marx’s injury that ended the competition, Mbonambi is the sole specialist hooker for the Springboks, however converted back row forward Deon Fourie has filled in from the bench.

England may cite South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi for allegedly using a racial slur against Tom Curry during the Springboks’ triumph in the Rugby World Cup semi-final. Mbonambi is the focus of an investigation by his own colleagues.

Due to Malcom Marx’s injury that ended the tournament, Mbonambi is the only specialist hooker for the Springboks; however, converted back row forward Deon Fourie has filled in from the bench.

Mbonambi, 32, is alleged to have addressed England backrow forward Curry with “you white (followed by an expletive)”.

Curry approached referee Ben O’Keeffe about half an hour into Saturday’s hard-fought match in Paris to report the alleged comment and asked what he should do in response.

“Nothing, please,” replied O’Keeffe.

Curry was asked after South Africa had edged England 16-15 to reach the final whether Mbonambi, who also appeared to refuse to shake the England player’s hand at the end of the match, had said something he had taken issue with.

Mbonambi, 32, is said to have said, “you white (followed by an expletive)” to England backrow forward Curry.

About 30 minutes into Saturday’s intense contest in Paris, Curry went up to referee Ben O’Keeffe to report the purported remark and inquired as to what action O’Keeffe should do.

“Nothing, please,” O’Keeffe answered.

After South Africa defeated England 16–15 to advance to the final, Curry was questioned about a comment made by Mbonambi that he found offensive. Mbonambi also seemed to decline to shake the England player’s hand after the game.

“Yeah,” replied the 25-year-old, before adding that “it does not need to be talked about”.

South Africa Rugby said on Sunday they would look into the matter.

“We are aware of the allegation, which we take very seriously, and are reviewing the available evidence,” it said.

“We will engage with Bongi if anything is found to substantiate the claim.”

Verbal abuse in rugby is rarely penalised, although England prop Joe Marler and South African Jacques Potgieter have been punished in the past.

Marler received a two match-ban for remarks addressed to Wales’s Samson Lee in 2016 and Potgieter was fined for an on-field homophobic slur in a Super Rugby game in 2015.

The 25-year-old acknowledged as much before saying, “It does not need to be talked about.”

Rugby South Africa announced on Sunday that they would investigate the situation.

“We are aware of the allegation, which we take very seriously, and are reviewing the available evidence,” read the statement.

“We will engage with Bongi if anything is found to substantiate the claim.”

Rugby players rarely face consequences for verbal abuse, however South Africa’s Jacques Potgieter and England’s Joe Marler did in the past.

Marler was banned from two matches in 2016 for comments he made to Samson Lee of Wales, while Potgieter was fined for using a homophobic slur during a Super Rugby match in 2015.

The Springboks, though, will be nervously awaiting the citing deadline which falls on Monday morning.

They can ill afford to be without Mbonambi, who was man of the match in the quarter-final win over hosts France, for next Saturday’s final with fellow three-time champions New Zealand.