/ 9 March 2004

Rugby racism report ready

An investigation into racism in rugby and Kamp Staaldraad has been completed, and the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) will apologise to players, SABC television reported on Monday.

Sarfu president Brian van Rooyen told SABC that a report would be handed to Minister of Sport and Recreation Ngconde Balfour later in the week and that there was no need for further investigation.

”We have done an in-depth report on both of these issues,” he said.

However, he said, Sarfu would give full cooperation to the Department of Sport and Recreation in its separate investigation into the incidents.

The two players involved in the racism scandal last year ”got a raw deal”, said Van Rooyen. Players Geo Cronje and Quinton Davids were reported to have refused to share a room, the SABC said. They were subsequently not included in the World Cup squad.

Footage of the pre-World Cup Staaldraad camp, leaked to the press, raised a furore last year with images of naked South African rugby players taking part in a variety of potentially degrading exercises.

Various participants have spoken out against the activities at the camp, and the Sarfu report is expected to give more information about what actually happened.

Meanwhile, former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk visited Van Rooyen on Monday, apparently to ask for election funding.

”We are here about democracy, not about rugby,” De Klerk quipped for the cameras. — Sapa