Inquiry into rugby death
2006-07-10 20:11
Johannesburg - An inquiry into the death of Boland rugby player Riaan Loots started behind closed doors at Wellington in the Western Cape on Monday, SABC television news reported.
It was scheduled to go on until Thursday.
Statements have been submitted by five officials, a referee, two touch judges, a paramedic and a doctor.
Loots, 24, was allegedly felled by a stiff arm tackle during an ill-tempered match between his team, Rawsonville, and the Delicious Club of Ceres, and then kicked in the head. He died in hospital two days later.
According to the report the Delicious Rugby Club had been suspended from all activities within the Boland Rugby Union. A separate inquiry would investigate reasons for the behaviour that sparked the incident.
Meanwhile, the police investigation into the incident had been completed and authorities were waiting for the Attorney-General to decide whether to prosecute or not.
- SAPA