SARFU keeps its racism investigation in house

Published on Friday 12 December 2003 00:00

SOUTH Africa’s new rugby chiefs have cancelled an independent inquiry into alleged racism within the Springboks team.

The South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU), under new president Brian van Rooyen, who deposed predecessor Silas Nkanunu last week, said its inquiry into specific alleged racist incidents would now be handled by a SARFU committee.

Under Nkanunu, SARFU had appointed retired Judge Edwin King to head an inquiry into alleged racism, including reports that white player Geo Cronje refused to share a room with black player Quinton Davids. That will now be handled internally, and SARFU also said it would investigate "Camp Barbed Wire" - a military-style training camp where Springboks were forced into a lake naked.

The new bosses, however, said the government’s Ministry of Sport will undertake a broader enquiry into "transformation issues" and that SARFU and SA Rugby are fully committed to co-operating with the ministry.

France’s rugby federation, meanwhile, is almost certain to name Bernard Laporte today as coach of the host nation for the 2007 World Cup - if the current coach wants to stay in the job.

Scotland international Bryan Redpath has been ruled out of Sale’s Heineken Cup trip to Biarritz tomorrow after injuring his shoulder in last week’s victory over Cardiff Blues in the same competition.

The scrum-half’s place in Biarritz will be taken by Nick Walshe, who deputised for him during the World Cup.

"Bryan is making progress, but we won’t risk him" said Sale head coach Jim Mallinder.