South African rugby player Madosh Tambwe has defended French player Maxime Lucu, who has come under fire over a video of him snubbing a handshake with Springbok Ox Nche.
On social media, many rugby fans have labelled the incident as “racist”
France beat South Africa 21-19 at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday evening.
MAXIME LUCU APPEARS TO SNUB SEVERAL SPRINGBOKS
On social media, a clip of France’s Les Bleus shaking hands with the Springboks post-match has garnered much attention.
In a viral video – posted by the Springboks – features one of the French players, Maxime Lucu, first offering Bok Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu a hug. However, he appeared to snub shaking hands with Ox Nche, who appeared bewildered in his facial expression caught on camera.
Lucu – who received a yellow card for a high tackle on Sacha – also appeared to snub a handshake with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Manie Libbok, who stood in the line procession.
Take a look…
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‘NOT RACIST’ SAYS SA RUGBY PLAYER
On social media, rugby fans accused Maxime Lucu of poor sportsmanship for appearing to shun handshakes with several Springboks. Some even accused the Bordeaux Bègles player’s actions of being racially motivated, a claim which was disproven in the video.
Coming to his defence was South African rugby player Madosh Tambwe, a former teammate of Lucu.
He tweeted from his X account: “Avoid misrepresenting the situation. I have played alongside both men; Max Lucu is not a racist. We share disappointment over yesterday’s Springbok defeat. Yet using this fragment to advance a narrative is something the sport does not require”.
Avoid misrepresenting the situation, I have played alongside both men, Max Lucu is not a racist.
We share disappointment over yesterday’s Springbok defeat, yet using this fragment to advance a narrative is something the sport does not require. https://t.co/STT9hkDZdz— Madosh Tambwe (@madoshtambwe) November 14, 2026
Tambwe was born in the DRC [formerly Zaire], but moved to Johannesburg as a child where he attended Parktown Boys High. He played for local clubs like the Lions, Bulls and Sharks before relocating to France, where he played for Bordeaux Bègles and his current club, Montpellier.
In 2023, Lucu himself defended French national teammate Bastien Chalureau, who had been accused of a racially motivated assault on two North African rugby players.
