Key Highlights
- Argentina lodged an official complaint against Tom Curry after a confrontation with coach Felipe Contepomi in the tunnel following England’s victory.
- Contepomi accused Curry of pushing him and using foul language, while Curry’s camp rejected the claim as “bullying.”
- Six Nations is overseeing the incident and will decide if an investigation is warranted based on provided evidence from both sides.
- The initial flashpoint was a late tackle by Curry that caused Juan Cruz Mallia to suffer a suspected ACL knee injury.
Argentina Lobbies for Official Complaint Against England’s Tom Curry After Confrontation with Coach Contepomi in Tunnel
In the aftermath of England’s 27-23 victory over Argentina, tensions escalated when coach Felipe Contepomi accused England flanker Tom Curry of pushing him and using foul language in the tunnel. This incident has led to an official complaint being lodged by the South American side against Curry.
Confrontation Details
The initial flashpoint occurred during a late tackle by Curry, which forced Juan Cruz Mallia off the field with a suspected ACL knee injury. The match was tightly contested, with Argentina closing out the game with 14 men after Mallia’s departure.
“Curry, let me say, it is probably part of his nature to bully people,” Contepomi stated during an explosive post-match press conference. “He came into the tunnel and he gave me a little smack. He is 27, strong.
I am 48.” Contepomi further elaborated that Curry had said, “f**k off” and pushed him when he confronted Curry about Mallia’s injury.
Contepomi added, “After breaking someone’s knee you need to be at least humble enough and respectful to say sorry I did something wrong. But he went the opposite.” The incident was reportedly caught on camera, with England team manager Richard Hill also present in the tunnel during the confrontation.
England’s Response
England head coach Steve Borthwick defended Curry in response to Contepomi’s accusations, stating that he had no knowledge of what took place in the tunnel and was unaware of any incident. “I’m aware there was an incident,” Borthwick said, “but I wasn’t there, I was in the changing room at the time.” He went on to say that Curry’s character is “impeccable” and his conduct exemplary.
“Clearly, I’m aware of it. I wouldn’t want that in any instance to be the centre of attention of what was a tough, hard Test match where two teams really went at it for the afternoon.” Borthwick emphasized the respect between both sides despite the physical nature of the game.
Six Nations and Next Steps
The Six Nations, which oversees the running of autumn internationals, is now considering whether to launch an investigation. England must provide their version of events surrounding the tunnel confrontation before a decision can be made. The RFU has offered to provide footage if required for this process.
With all information due by Tuesday morning, it remains to be seen whether an inquiry will proceed based on the provided evidence from both sides. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining discipline and respect within international rugby competition.
The match between England and Argentina was part of the 2025 Autumn Nations Series, a crucial tournament for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming Six Nations championship.
