The RFU will submit video footage to the authorities to demonstrate the detail of Sunday’s post-match tunnel scuffle between Tom Curry and Felipe Contepomi, after the Argentina head coach claimed the England flanker pushed and swore at him.
England beat Argentina 27-23 at Twickenham on Sunday in a spicy encounter, which ended with a fracas on the field at full-time involving several members of each team. The Argentinians were incensed that Curry had hit Juan Cruz Mallía late in a tackle after 75 minutes, which damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in the full back’s knee. Contepomi then extraordinarily called Curry a “bully” after the match and said he had shoved him in the tunnel and told him to “f*** off”.
The Argentinians on Monday made a formal complaint about Curry to the Six Nations, the governing body which organises the Autumn Nations Series. The Six Nations has subsequently contacted England to hear their side of the story.
Curry and Mallia have history — the England forward was sent off after just 11 minutes during the pool match against Argentina in the 2023 World Cup after this clash of heads
SANDRA MAILER/SHUTTERSTOCK
The Times understands that the RFU will provide any footage — from CCTV and other cameras — it has which might show this alleged incident. The RFU has also been asked to provide a statement to the Six Nations, which will then judge if this requires further investigation or a disciplinary procedure.
The governing body will not issue an update until it has heard both sides of the story, so will spend the next few days gathering evidence.
Curry is unlikely to be cited for his tackle, as it does not meet the red-card threshold. He was penalised on the field but not shown a card. He can, however, be brought before a disciplinary hearing for his post-match conduct, if it is deemed that Contepomi’s version of events was accurate.
Curry made a late tackle on Mallía, the Argentina full back, late in the game
DAVID ROGERS/GETTY IMAGES
Contepomi spelt out his issue with the Sale Sharks and England player on Sunday night. “It is part of his nature to bully people,” he said. “But he came off in the tunnel and he gave me a little smack. I’m 48. [It was] not a smack, a push, a hit here on the chest.
“So maybe it is his nature, I don’t know. Probably those are the guys we are rewarding and we praise. Maybe that’s where we want rugby to go, I don’t know.
“I was standing there [in the tunnel] and he was coming and wanted to say hi to one of our coaches but we said no because we were upset. He was reckless and broke our player’s knee. I know it is rugby but if we don’t look after each other in rugby it could be dangerous.
Contepomi accused Curry of shoving him in the chest after the game
JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
“He was coming and [I] said, ‘Mate, you broke his knee’ and he said, ‘F** off’ and pushed me like that. Maybe that is the way he is, I don’t know him. I am not happy with the situation, after breaking someone’s knee I think you need to be at least humble enough and respectful to say ‘Sorry I did something wrong’ but he went the opposite.
“Maybe it is his way of being a bully. If we want bullies in this game, good on them. It was a late, late tackle, or reckless.”
England have not publicly addressed the tunnel scrap, but offered a defence of Curry’s character more generally on Sunday evening. Steve Borthwick, the head coach, said: “Anybody who’s had any contact with Tom will know that his character is impeccable.”
Henry Slade, the centre, added: “He is the furthest thing from a bully I have ever seen. He’s such a genuine, genuine guy who cares a lot about everyone. Wears his heart on his sleeve. A very tough guy but I wouldn’t say he’s anywhere near being a bully at all.”