The RFU ban former council member from attending matches in England for calling a union volunteer a ‘black ****’ – a day after South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi was cleared of using a racial slur against Tom Curry at the Rugby World Cup

• Former RFU council member Andrew Sarek has admitted to using a racial slur
• He has been banned from attending matches in England by the RFU
• Bongi Mbonambi has been cleared of using a racial slur against Tom Curry 
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

In the midst of a toxic racism storm at the World Cup, the RFU have confirmed that a former council member has been banned for calling a union volunteer a ‘black ****’.

Andrew Sarek pleaded guilty to the racial slur, in an incident when he was attending the England v Wales fixture at Twickenham on August 12. 

Having considered the evidence at an RFU inclusion and diversity disciplinary hearing held on October 5, the panel ruled that Sarek should be banned from attending any rugby match in England or ‘performing any act of administration’ during that period.

The former council member for Eastern Counties has also been informed that any future involvement in the sport as a spectator or official is dependent on completing, ‘to the satisfaction of the RFU’, the union’s online education module, entitled Tackling Racism in Sport.

The panel’s judgement concluded that, had Sarek not pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, he was likely to have received a two-year ban, given the severity of the offence. 

Former RFU council member Andrew Sarek (pictured) has been banned from attending matches in England after admitting to using a racial slur 

The RFU pushed for a tough punishment and the lack of an apology was cited as a reason to impose a substantial sanction. The verdict states: ‘Mr Sarek showed no insight into his racist behaviour. Education is a vital part of this sanction.’

In his own statement, Sarek said: ‘I am not a racist, nor have I ever been accused of being one, or for having racist views.’ 

Describing his outburst as an ‘aberration’, he added: ‘What I said was crass and insensitive and I am very sorry for the hurt and distress I caused. If there needs to be a disciplinary hearing, I am prepared to accept whatever punishment the panel deems appropriate.’

A striking feature of the lengthy judgment is the testimony of the unnamed victim. 

As someone with a long-term involvement in the sport, he stated: ‘I am beginning to feel tired of defending the people in the game of rugby.’ This was in reference to issues of racism.

This latest episode will do nothing to alter the perception that the game has an entrenched issue with discrimination, especially at grass-roots level. 

Earlier this year, the RFU announced that another former council member, Alex Murphy, had been banned for saying – during the England v Wales match at Twickenham in February, 2022 – ‘you realise they don’t let n****rs in the Royal Box’.

South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi has been cleared to play in Saturday night’s World Cup final

This follows a World Rugby investigation after he was accused of using a racial slur against Tom Curry (pictured)

Last year, former England centre Luther Burrell revealed in an explosive Mail Sport interview how he had encountered racism during his career. 

His testimony sparked a root-and-branch review of racism and classism in the game, on behalf of the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the RPA – the players’ union. This led to the creation of an inclusion and diversity action plan for English rugby.

The timing of this disciplinary verdict is unfortunate, to say the least, as it comes amid the continued fall-out from events at the Stade de France last weekend. 

Tom Curry has been subjected to a vicious backlash on social media after complaining that he was called a ‘white ****’ by Bongi Mbonambi. 

The Springbok hooker has been cleared to play in Saturday’s World Cup Final after a World Rugby investigation into the incident concluded that there was insufficient evidence to take action.

This decision led to a furious response from the RFU – and the English governing body will point to the sentence handed to Sarek as proof of their determination to stamp out racism.

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