Watson comments shock SA rugby

2008-10-12 14:59

Johannesburg - The South African Rugby Union (Saru) has greeted with shock statements attributed to Luke Watson regarding South African rugby, his Springbok teammates and the national jersey.

Rapport newspaper reported on Sunday that Watson had said he'd wanted to vomit on his Springbok jersey.

According to the report, Watson had also said that the sport was being run by "Dutchmen".

Saru has called an urgent meeting for Monday to determine the accuracy of the reports with Western Province, the player's contracting union, and the University of Cape Town Rugby Club, where the statements were said to have been made.

SA Rugby's manager of national teams and acting managing director, Andy Marinos said that if the reports were accurate, it was a very serious matter.

'We can't prejudge'

He said: "We can't pre-judge the matter on the strength of media reports and we can make no definitive statement until we have in our hands what evidence there may be.

Marinos said a further statement would be issued following the meeting with Western Province and UCT.

Afriforum meanwhile said it had sent a letter to both Watson and the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Butana Komphela.

Hate speech

The CEO of Afriforum, Kallie Kriel, said in the letter they demanded that Watson withdraw his statement that the problem with SA rugby was "that it is controlled by Dutchmen".

Afriforum said that if Watson refused to withdraw his statement, it intended having him summoned to the Equality Court on charges of hate speech.

Watson allegedly made his hurtful statements regarding Afrikaners when he appeared as a guest speaker at the Umbumbo Rugby Festival at the University of Cape Town on 3 October 2008.

- SAPA