Frustrations over World Rugby's decision, in relation to the Tom Curry/Bongi Mbonambi racism allegations, were on clear view after the Rugby World Cup third-place play-off, with England prop Joe Marler refusing to shake the hand of World Rugby Chairman, Bill Beaumont (you can view the incident in the clip from Virgin Media Sport below, at around 50 seconds in).
World Rugby had found that there was not sufficient evidence to continue their investigation, after England's Tom Curry alleged that South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi had used a racist slur during the semi-final between their sides.
After this decision, Marler cryptically tweeted, 'Brilliant. Ridiculous. Expected. “I didn’t call you Baldy, Baldy.”'
READ HERE: The Strong Irish Connections In The South Africa Rugby World Cup Final Squad
Joe Marler Calls Out Bill Beaumont
"They're littered with good players across the field but their strategy and Borthwick's coaching philosophy is not up to scratch!
"This England team have given us nothing to be hopeful about for them, bar kicking 80% of the possession they get!"
- Rob Kearney#ARGvENG #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/9tGcTz2fqm
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 27, 2023
Brilliant. Ridiculous. Expected.
“I didn’t call you Baldy, Baldy.”
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) October 26, 2023
Following last night's blanking of Beaumont, ex-England out-half turned podcaster Andy Goode got in on the spat, and called out Marler on Twitter.
"Joe Marler showing a lack of respect for Bill Beaumont and walking straight past without shaking his hand, sums him up really", wrote Goode, to which Marler crudely replied, "Eat shit, wank bucket. Let’s catch up soon x".
Goode's The Rugby Pod partner, Jim Hamilton, also praised Bill Beaumont and called out Marler, albeit in a more respectful manner than his colleague.
"No agenda here," said Hamilton. "No licking ass. Facts from what I have seen. Bill Beaumont is a great rugby man through and through, and a class human. Show respect and be a role model and if you have an issue. Be man enough to pick the phone up or have an honest chat or even better say it to…"
However, Marler will have his plaudits from some quarters, given World Rugby's recent decision to implement the new World League.
The new test format, that will replace the November and summer internationals, has received a rake of criticism, as it will effectively prevent Tier 2 nations from competing against Tier 1 nations for the foreseeable future.
Joe Marler And Andy Goode Go At It On Twitter
Eat shit, wank bucket. Let’s catch up soon x 🍋 https://t.co/mQGds4Oytk
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) October 27, 2023
Grow up Joe
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) October 28, 2023
No agenda here. No licking ass. Facts from what I have seen.
Bill Beaumont is a great rugby man through and through, and a class human.
Show respect and be a role model and if you have an issue. Be man enough to pick the phone up or have an honest chat or even better say it to…— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) October 28, 2023
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