Bok coach in sex claim scandal
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:46
Troubled times: Peter de Villiers too emotional for some
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and the South African Rugby Union (SARU) have moved swiftly to deny selection blackmail allegations, but they confirmed that an employee of SARU is facing a disciplinary hearing over "extraordinary claims" made about the Bok coach.
The Weekender newspaper reported that De Villiers was the victim of a blackmail attempt over player selections. The blackmail attempt allegedly involved an official and a player who were threatening to release damning video footage of a sexual nature to the media if the said player is dropped from the Springbok squad.
However, SARU and De Villiers dismissed the blackmail claim in the newspaper, although they did not deny the "sexual activity" claims.
In a joint statement De Villiers and SARU said they "categorically deny" that there have ever been any attempts to blackmail or coerce him over the selection of any player to the national squad, as alleged in a report that appeared in Saturday's Weekender newspaper.
"However SARU can confirm that a company employee did approach Mr de Villiers on August 15 in Cape Town. The employee made certain extraordinary claims which SARU has since looked into but has been unable to find any basis to support in fact," the statement said.
"The employee was advised on August 25 that he would be called to an internal misconduct hearing, the charge sheet for which is still being prepared."
Andy Colquhoun, SARU's Strategic Communications Manager, told rugby365.com on Saturday that they are not going to elaborate on the statement or comment further.
However, despite SARU's statement not mentioning the employee, the Weekender report named Chris Hewitt, the Springbok Communications Manager, as the SARU official at the centre of the sex claims scandal.
Hewitt, when contacted by the newspaper, refused to comment about the video and whether he is using it as leverage in his dispute with SARU.
"I can't say anything, because I am involved in a contractual dispute with my employers," Hewitt told the Weekender.
SARU's statement and Hewitt's remarks suggests that the Bok media liaison man is the employee at the centre of the scandal.
Hewitt was dropped as Springbok Communications Manager before the start of the Tri-Nations tournament in July, after apparently arriving late for a press conference - although other claims, such as language bias, were also levelled at him.
Rayaan Adriaanse, a former Springbok Communications Manager who had his title re-adjusted to that of a Media/Communications Manager, has since returned to the Bok role in place of Hewitt.
According to the Weekender report claims were made that video footage (recorded without his knowledge) existed of De Villiers in an activity of a sexual nature in East London earlier this year.
According to the newspaper the video was being used as leverage to retain a player in the Springbok team, claims now being denied by SARU and De Villiers.
However, they did not deny that the claims of sexual activity existed and that these claims are at the heart of the disciplinary action involving Hewitt.
De Villiers's manager Rian Oberholzer, speaking to the Weekender, denied that any incident had occurred that might prejudice his client.
"There was no video and no incident whatsoever, and if anyone wants to claim otherwise, then show me the proof," Oberholzer told the Weekender.
By rugby365.com sports desk
