Kirifi cops racial slurs in Sydney
The Hurricanes have thrown their support behind Du’Plessis Kirifi after he offered a one-fingered salute in response to racial taunts in Sydney on Saturday night.
Loose forward Kirifi, who said he heard ‘‘racial slurs’’ and comments about his mother from the crowd during the Hurricanes’ 22-18 win over the Waratahs at Leichhardt Oval, was captured flipping the bird after the Super Rugby Pacific match.
Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee spoke yesterday to Kirifi, who had earlier apologised for the gesture on social media, and said he could understand why he responded to what he believed were derogatory comments directed his way.
‘‘Racist comments, or comments about your mother, are not pleasant for a young man to deal with – or any person to deal with,’’ Lee said.
‘‘He regrets what he did, but I can totally understand why he did it – in the heat of the moment, after allegedly hearing that kind of language. I can accept why he made a mistake. I can understand why it happened.’’
Kirifi explained on Instagram why he offered the local fans the bird; while he loved it ‘‘when the crowds are hyped and throw chat from the stands’’, it wasn’t acceptable to be subjected to taunts about his race.
‘‘There’s a line and just because you’re in the crowd doesn’t give you the right to talk about my mother or my race,’’ he wrote.
‘‘Abuse from the sideline is part of our job, and it’s a part I personally love – however this doesn’t justify racial slurs or comments about my family.’’
Lee said he had spoken to Waratahs CEO Paul Doorn, and NZ Rugby. ‘‘We just don’t condone racism fullstop and that is what Paul and I spoke about. We need to make sure we are consistent in our messaging.’’
The Waratahs released a statement yesterday afternoon.
‘‘The NSW Waratahs are disappointed to be made aware of an allegation of racial abuse from the crowd at Leichhardt Oval towards Hurricanes player Du’Plessis Kirifi,’’ the statement said.
‘‘There is no place for racism in society and this behaviour will not be tolerated.’’
NZ Rugby, as the employer of Kirifi, wanted to know what had led to the player to act in the way he did. Lee said they were satisfied with his explanation.
The chances of finding who made the comments appear remote. Because Leichhardt Oval was ‘‘quite an old ground’’, there was no CCTV footage, Lee said.
Kirifi said that if he had his time again, he would act in a different manner.
‘‘I admire my team-mates who are mature enough to be nonreactive and hopefully the next time I’m in this position I show the same resolve,’’ Kirifi stated.
‘‘As athletes we’re in the public eye, so I apologise to anyone disappointed by my actions, especially those with kids who look up to us as professionals.’’