Argentina Coach Felipe Contepomi Slams Tom Curry After Fiery Twickenham Clash
A tense Test match between England and Argentina at Twickenham ended in controversy on Sunday as Argentina’s head coach, Felipe Contepomi, publicly accused England forward Tom Curry of dangerous play and aggressive behaviour. The dispute erupted following England’s narrow 27–23 victory—marking their third win over the Pumas this year—and quickly escalated into a heated exchange that spilled into the stadium tunnel.
The flashpoint came in the 76th minute, when England replacement forward Tom Curry delivered a high-impact challenge on Argentina full-back Juan Cruz Mallia, who had just released a clearing kick. The collision left Mallia with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, forcing him off the field. The Pumas were left to finish the match with 14 men, having already made all their substitutions, while England remained at full strength.
Argentina’s coaching staff and players were visibly furious, arguing that the tackle was both reckless and improperly handled by match officials. Contepomi later said he was shocked that the incident “was not even checked out” by the referee team despite its severity.
“I don’t know where to start with it,” the coach said. “I would call it reckless. We ended up playing with 14, they ended up with 15, and nothing was reviewed. That is very difficult to accept.”
Argentina Furious After Controversial Late Tackle Injures Key Player
According to Contepomi, the situation escalated after the match when Curry approached the Argentina technical area inside the tunnel. The coach claimed that Curry confronted him aggressively and even made physical contact.
“And Curry, let me say, it is not only that tackle because probably it is part of his nature to bully people,” Contepomi said. “But he came off in the tunnel and he gave me a little smack. I’m 48.”
He later clarified:
“Not a smack—more a push, a hit here on the chest. So maybe it is his nature, I don’t know.”
Asked to describe how the exchange began, Contepomi said he and his staff were refusing post-match pleasantries due to being upset about Mallia’s injury. When Curry approached one of their coaches to greet him, the Argentina staff declined.
“He was reckless and broke our player’s knee,” Contepomi explained. “I know it is rugby, but if we don’t look after each other in rugby, it can be dangerous. He was coming and said, ‘Mate, you broke his knee.’ Then he swore at me and pushed me like that.”
Contepomi added that, in his opinion, Curry showed neither remorse nor sportsmanship.
“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.”
England head coach Steve Borthwick hit back at the claims, insisting Curry’s character remains above reproach. He praised the Sale Sharks forward as a deeply respected and principled player.
“I think that anybody who has had any contact with Tom Curry knows the character of the man,” Borthwick said. “His character is impeccable. He’s a fantastic team man, a very respectful guy. Tom Curry’s character is unquestionable.”
Borthwick noted that he was unaware of the tunnel altercation but emphasized that emotions often run high immediately after a tight, physical Test match.
The win marked England’s third victory over Argentina in 2025, following two successful Tests in Argentina in July. It also extended England’s winning streak to 11 consecutive matches across all opponents.
“We’re two sides which have a huge amount of respect for one another,” Borthwick said. “We’ve played them three times this year and we know many of their players from the Premiership and beyond. It was a tough, hard Test match.”
The incident has reignited broader discussions around player safety in high-level rugby, especially concerning head-high collisions and late tackles. Argentina fans expressed particular frustration online, calling for stricter enforcement of rules meant to protect players from long-term injury.
For Argentina, the potential ACL injury to Mallia represents a significant blow, especially with major fixtures looming in the international calendar. Contepomi stressed that accountability and player welfare must remain central to the sport.
“We know rugby is a contact game,” he said. “But there is a responsibility to look after each other. Otherwise, it becomes dangerous.”
Whether World Rugby reviews Curry’s tackle remains to be seen, but the post-match fallout has ensured that the debate will continue long after the final whistle.
Source- EWN
