England forward slammed for ‘disgusting dog shot’ as headbutt on Junior Springboks ‘single-handedly’ ruins title-bid
Seb Kelly's headbutt on Luan Giliomee during the Junior World Championship.
England U20s forward Seb Kelly has been slammed for his headbutt on Junior Springboks star Luan Gilomee during the semi-final of the World Rugby Junior World Championship.
Kelly was shown a permanent red card for his actions in the 32nd minute of the encounter when his side held a 17-7 advantage over the defending champions, with England ultimately going on to lose the last-four showdown 53-37.
Within minutes of the send-off, fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed sent a brilliant cross-field kick to the left corner where winger Khuthadzo Rasivhaga was on hand to touch down unopposed as South Africa closed the gap before the break.
Rasivhaga doubled his tally in the second half after a stunning break from Giliomee, and the full-back turned provider again with another deft offload to send flanker Kebotile Maake thundering over in the left corner.
Maake scored his second, and Rasivhaga completed his hat-trick with Luke Cannon also scoring for the Junior Springboks, ensuring efforts from Jonny Weimann, Tate Williams and Hugh Shields were mere consolation, the last two coming after Giliomee had been red-carded for a contact in the air.
Seb Kelly slammed for costly headbutt
Ultimately, Kelly’s actions proved costly in the defeat and the youngster was berated on social media for his headbutt on Giliomee.
“Absolutely disgusting dog shot by Seb Kelly on Giliomee! Send the filth!” One fan remarked on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
@SportsPunter675 added: “Seb Kelly single-handedly ruining England U20s chance of winning the championship, absolutely selfish and disgusting behaviour.”
South African journalist Brenden Nel also weighed in, writing: “Absolute stupidity by Seb Kelly for England. Rightly red carded for head butt on Luan Gillomee on the floor. Why do rugby players think they can get away with these things?”
An England fan remarked: “Utterly moronic from flanker Seb Kelly there. England winning and he puts the cheapest of shots in on the SA full back and immediately England concedes a try after his red card.”
“Seb Kelly has possibly costed England in this semi final. Being fired up is perfectly fine but you have to channel all that energy in the right direction. Stupid head butt that,” Philasande Sixaba wrote.
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🟥 Thuggish act from Seb Kelly.
Rightly shown a permanent red card. So stupid in a semi-final too. pic.twitter.com/XaMEWf2dLV
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 13, 2026
Comedian Rory Petzer argued that had a South African committed that act, they would never live it down.
“If that was a South African player, we’d never ever hear the end of that headbutt and it would ‘be typical’. The oke was lying on his back! Embarrassing. Seb Kelly possibly cost his team the final.”
Former Sunday Times writer Stephen Jones also weighed in on the act and did not hold back on Kelly or the performance from England.
“South Africa inflict a savaging on England in the JWC semi in Georgia,” he began.
“England were so brave in adversity after the sending-off of Seb Kelly for a disgraceful head-butt but the final score of 53-37 does no justice to the Baby Boks’ vast superiority and their sheer talent behind the scrum. It is France v SA in the final”
France v South Africa Final
The incident was also likened to Bakkies Botha’s infamous headbutt on Jimmy Cowan with @RugbyIssues remarking: “This technique felt awfully familiar in the moment just with the roles reversed. Think it should have been left as a once off by the mad Bakkies Botha.”
South Africa will now face France in the final of the World Rugby Junior World Championship after they needed a 76th-minute winning try from centre Adrien Drault to beat New Zealand 26-22 in the first semi-final at Avchala Stadium, avenging their defeat at the same stage last year.
It will be the first meeting in a final between the sides with South Africa aiming to go back-to-back for the first time and France seeking a fourth title and first since 2023.
