Grey 'cited' for racism slur

2005-03-15 16:27

Johannesburg - Veteran Waratahs centre Nathan Grey has been "cited" with the Sanzar rugby body by the Johannesburg-based Cats after an alleged racial incident at the weekend, a South African rugby spokesperson said on Tuesday.

South African rugby authorities said a probe will be launched after Grey allegedly insulted black Cats winger Chumani Booi during a Super 12 game played at Ellis Park over the weekend.

The New South Wales team trounced the home-based Cats 40-19 to move to the top of the Super 12 table.

"I can confirm that an official complaint has been laid by the Cats," said SA Rugby spokesperson Rayaan Adriaanse.

"At the moment statements are being taken from the two players involved in the complaint, Booi and (Cats fullback Conrad) Jantjes," Adriaanse told AFP.

Cats team manager Mac Hendricks said the complaint was laid with a regional official of Sanzar, the alliance between the South Africa, New Zealand and Australia rugby unions, the organisers of the Super 12.

Johannesburg-based Afrikaans daily Beeld said the complaint came after Grey allegedly made a strong racist insult to Booi within the first five minutes of the game.

"I'm not trying to say for a moment that the guys are not supposed to use bad language on the field, but this was going a bit too far," Jantjes said.

Hendricks said he did not know how long it would take for the complaint to be investigated, but hopefully "it would be cleared up soon."

The seasoned Grey, 29, said in December he has agreed terms with Japanese club Kyuden from next year when he comes off contract with the Waratahs.

He earned 34 Test caps since his international debut in 1998 when he broke into the national team after moving back from the Queensland Reds where he was competing for selection alongside seasoned internationals, Tim Horan, Jason Little and Daniel Herbert.

He has played 67 games for NSW and two for Queensland.

- AFP