Argentina Lodge Official Complaint Over Tom Curry Tunnel Incident
Argentina's rugby union has formally demanded an investigation into England flanker Tom Curry, accusing him of forcefully shoving Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi in the stadium tunnel following a heated Test match. The extraordinary allegations emerged after England's narrow 27-23 victory over Argentina at Allianz Stadium, which secured their perfect record in the Quilter Nations Series and extended their winning streak to eleven matches.
On-Field Fracas Sparks Tunnel Confrontation
The controversy began at the full-time whistle when a fracas erupted between players from both teams. The incident appeared to be triggered by Tom Curry's late hit on Argentine full-back Juan Cruz Mallia, which forced the player's withdrawal just five minutes from time. While Curry was penalised for the tackle, the television match official surprisingly didn't review the incident for potential further punishment.
During an explosive post-match press conference, Pumas boss Felipe Contepomi launched a blistering attack on Curry, describing him as a "bully" and angrily claiming he had "broken" Mallia's knee with what he termed a "reckless" tackle. The Pumas have since confirmed the devastating news that Mallia has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee as a result of the challenge.
Contepomi's Detailed Allegations
Contepomi provided a detailed account of the alleged tunnel altercation, claiming Curry confronted him after the on-field scrap spilled over into the players' tunnel. "He came off down the tunnel and he gave me a little smack. I'm 48 [years old]," Contepomi stated. "Not a smack – a push, a hit here on the chest. Maybe it is his nature."
The Argentine coach elaborated further, explaining: "I was standing there and [Curry] 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. He was coming and said 'mate you broke his knee' and he said 'f*** off' and pushed me like that."
Contepomi expressed his dismay at Curry's alleged behaviour, suggesting the England international should have shown humility rather than aggression. "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," he added.
Formal Complaint and England's Response
Argentina have now lodged an official complaint regarding the incident and are urging Six Nations Rugby, the governing body overseeing the autumn Test matches, to investigate the 27-year-old England forward. There remains a 24-hour citing window for Six Nations Rugby to bring action against Curry, with disciplinary proceedings also possible for the alleged tunnel scuffle.
England head coach Steve Borthwick was quick to defend his player's character in light of the serious allegations. "I think that anybody who has had any contact with Tom Curry, his character is impeccable," Borthwick insisted. "He's a fantastic team man, a very respectful guy. I think Tom Curry's character is unquestionable."
Borthwick acknowledged awareness of the incident but emphasised he didn't witness it personally, having been in the changing room at the time. He expressed hope that the post-match controversy wouldn't overshadow what he described as a "tough, hard Test match where two teams really went at it for the afternoon."
