Watson faces DC hearing
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:17
Luke Watson (centre) ponders his future in Green and Gold
Springbok loose forward Luke Watson faces a possible "code of conduct" disciplinary hearing, following his controversial remarks at a recent rugby tournament.
At the weekend rugby365.com reported on Watson's inflammatory speech made as a keynote speaker at a the Ubumbo Rugby Festival at the University of Cape Town Rugby Football Club on Friday, October 3.
The South African Rugby Union expressed shock and called for an urgent meeting to discuss Watson's comments.
And on Monday they announced that, following discussions with Judge Lex Mpati, the chairman of the National Judicial Committee of the South African Rugby Union, a designated official has been appointed to investigate statements alleged to have been made by the Bok and Western Province loose forward.
"Durban attorney Dekker Govender has been tasked with investigating the allegations and weighing the evidence to determine if they merit a breach of the South African Rugby Union code of conduct," SARU said in a brief statement.
"If a breach is identified the player will face a disciplinary hearing."
Apart from his bizarre attack on his Springbok teammates, Watson claimed he felt so nauseated by wearing the Springbok jersey that he wanted to vomit on it.
Another claim he made was that "the problem with SA rugby is that it is controlled by Dutchmen", whilst Watson also suggested that SA rugby is "rotten to the core" and that "the men who sit on my left and right of me in the change room despise me for who I am".
While Watson and his labelled the report as "vindictive and malicious propagandistic attacks" that are meant to divert debate from the real issues, such as transformation, unity and development, the players' remarks have been met with widespread condemnation.
Springbok captain Victor Matfield told Morris Gilbert of Beeld newspaper the comments were despicable.
"I was hoping we were past the stage when people were differentiated from one another according to race, culture and language," Matfield told the newspaper.
"If Luke used those words, he shattered the dreams of millions of young South Africans to one day play for the Springboks.
"Luke identified with the code of honour of the Springbok team which says one’s own interest is always subject to that of the team.
"When I was captain [of the Springboks] I did my best to involve Luke in all the activities. I asked him to make an input in video and team sessions and he did not want to."
* Meanwhile lawyers representing the civil rights initiative AfriForum will send a letter to Luke Watson on Monday, demanding that he retract, in writing, his comment that "the problem with SA rugby is that it is controlled by Dutchmen" and that he apologises unreservedly.
If he does not, AfriForum plans to take him to the Equality Court for "hate speech".
And the Afrikanerbond has also called for Watson's withdrawal from the sport after referring to white Afrikaans men in rugby as "Dutchmen".
In a statement, the league's managing director, Jan Bosman, said it was hoped that after the initial media reports on Sunday that Watson and his family would reconsider and even apologise to Afrikaners.
"It however seems as if they are not willing to do so," said Bosman.
He said if conditions in the game were as unbearable as Watson felt and if indeed Watson did feel strongly about Afrikaners in the game and in the administration of it, then he should have withdrawn from SA rugby.
"This would have been the honourable thing to do."
Referring to SARU's anti-racism campaign launched three weeks ago, Bosman said the derogatory and offending remarks against Afrikaners by Watson - a SARU player - demanded an equal action with as much vigour and enthusiasm from SARU as the campaign against racism.
"Luke Watson's attack on the Springbok and the emotions expressed is an entirely different matter and questions the person of Luke Watson.
"Nobody forced him to wear the Springbok jersey. His remarks are an embarrassment to SA rugby and also in this regard it would be the honourable thing to hand in his Springbok clothing and colours."
Bosman said the organisation was surprised that SARU had not demanded Watson's withdrawal immediately.
"This whole incident is once again proof that the inclusion of players in the national team must be based on merit," he said, adding that Watson's inclusion was due to political interference and against the wishes of the national coach.
He said Watson had also been declared a "black player" by politicians due to his father's struggle history.
Additional reporting by SAPA
