Rugby

Easily googleable:

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/tom-curry-mbonambi-racism-england-south-africa-b2433928.html

Oh. That's like half his team.

half his country to be fair

Is there a reason that the referee did not address it at the time, didn’t hear it himself?

The general twitter concensus appears to be that it was most likely an Afrikaans phrase used which has led to confusion. There are several phrases which make sense both as insults and in the context of a rugby game which sound very close to the alleged.

The SA players more than any international players know the importance of not getting close to the racism line.

The fact that there is no audio of the offence will mean it will blow over fairly quickly I'd imagine. Presumably SA Rugby (who are investigating) will provide a statement tomorrow.

Apparently he said 'white side' in Afrikaans.

Wit kant.

Why would u not say England? #askingforafriend

Possibly because English is his third language

I mean in Afrikaans

Refs commonly refer to the teams by shirt colour, so it’s well within the realms of possibility for me.

So just say Wit no?

"White Cunt" would be what my ignorant ears would have heard, and I'd say that was racist.

This explains it

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https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news/885619/historic-rugby-calendar-reform-to-supercharge-reach-and-competitiveness

Is this a fixtures and TV money stitch-up masquerading as inclusion/expansion?

"(Six Nations unions, SANZAAR unions and two further unions to be selected via a process run by SANZAAR)"

Hmmm...

Sounds suspiciously like the exclusion of Georgia, Portugal, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, USA... from meaningful fixtures to me.

Or maybe the USA will be included and Fiji ejected as a political + TV audience decision?

Either way it sounds far too easy to manipulate.

Isn't it going to be Fiji and Japan (hard to really argue they're not the next best two teams, conversely probably hard to argue that Italy are one of the top 12 on current performances) but then there will be the second tier with another 12 teams in and promotion/relegation between the groups? Sounds sensible to me and whoever the best team of the second tier are when they get up they'll have the chance for serious development, both on and off the pitch...

I'd be up for relegation from the 6 nations and promotion for top of the tier 2 lot. Might mean a bit of yo-yoing for Italy/Georgia/Portugal for a few years but would give the latter more exposure to top level matches outside the WC and the jeopardy for the 'big' teams would be great.

This isn't on the table, and likely will never be as the 6 nations stakeholders will never vote for relegation considering the centrality of the tournament to their budgets. this new proposal with 2 groups of 12, to be played across summer and autumn international windows, is basically the proposal to side-step that closed-shop objection and (if you're being generous to the governing bodies) offer some meaningful pathways for the tier 2 sides.

Isn't it going to be Fiji and Japan

It could be - and logic says it should be - but a lot changes between now and 2026 (see RWC draw arguments). Plus there are no criteria cited anywhere for who it might be, other than it being a decision for SANZAAR. Add to that the speculation around Georgia voting for it, when it might appear at first glance they would definitely miss out (?). And there is a desperation within World Rugby board to break into what they see as the untapped US market.

Fair enough, all speculation and conversation I've heard on podcasts and in the media around the plan seemed to take it as read that it would be those two. I guess we'll find out at some point!

It'll be whoever brings the most commercial benefit to the existing unions.

^ This. It'll be the reason why they won't outline any criteria. Why would you omit them otherwise?

Wyd kant/wit kant.
https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/487326/listen-forensic-audio-analysis-proves-what-bongi-mbonambi-might-ve-said

I like this response best...

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Well, Japan fit both criteria (form and commercial opportunity) but I'd be very surprised if the other team is USA or Brazil. Not helping rugby in either country to see them pumped horribly 11 times in this new tournament.

‘watter kant’: South Africa’s Afrikaans training calls emerge in video amid Bongi Mbonambi racism row