A former Springbok now coaching in New Zealand has been ordered to stay clear of this week’s All Black training camp, the New Zealand Herald reported on Wednesday.
It said former prop Balie Swart now coaches Nelson Bays in the National Provincial Championship and works in offices next to their home ground where the All Blacks are in camp this week, ahead of next month’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The Herald that All Blacks manager Tony Thorpe told him to steer clear of four ”private” training sessions but Swart would not confirm that he had been spoken to.
”At this stage I see myself as a New Zealander,” he said.
”For two years I’ve been involved with the Super 12 and I probably know all the players fairly well.
”If that’s what they [the All Blacks] want … end of story. But if anyone in New Zealand would think that of me they obviously havent got a clue. That’s not the way I operate in my life.” — Sapa-AFP