Watson not picked for Boks

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa forward Luke Watson, the son of a former anti-apartheid activist, was not considered for next month’s tour of Europe after being accused of insulting the treasured Springboks jersey.

An investigation by an independent attorney has found that Watson was in breach of the South African Rugby Union’s code of conduct following comments he made earlier this month. Watson, who was a guest speaker at a rugby festival at the University of Cape Town at the beginning of October, has been a regular in the Springbok team this season.The Western Province player allegedly said he had to “stop himself from vomiting on the Springbok jersey”.The former captain of the South Africa Under-21 team has a chequered history in South African rugby, having regularly criticised transformation issues and the coaching structures.Watson, in a 2006 magazine article, intimated he had little time for former World Cup winning coach Jake White and captain John Smit.White never selected the forward, citing his small stature as the reason for his continued omission.Watson, the son of former anti-apartheid activist Cheeky Watson, did, however, find his way into the Bok squad in 2007, but only after some intervention by South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskinas.Watson will now, after criticising the Springbok emblem and the way rugby is governed in the country, have to answer for himself at a disciplinary hearing.The date of the hearing is yet to be confirmed, but the loose forward is almost sure to miss out on next month’s tour to Europe.The Boks are set to play three Tests, against Wales, Scotland and England, in November.Nampa-AFPWatson, who was a guest speaker at a rugby festival at the University of Cape Town at the beginning of October, has been a regular in the Springbok team this season.The Western Province player allegedly said he had to “stop himself from vomiting on the Springbok jersey”.The former captain of the South Africa Under-21 team has a chequered history in South African rugby, having regularly criticised transformation issues and the coaching structures.Watson, in a 2006 magazine article, intimated he had little time for former World Cup winning coach Jake White and captain John Smit.White never selected the forward, citing his small stature as the reason for his continued omission.Watson, the son of former anti-apartheid activist Cheeky Watson, did, however, find his way into the Bok squad in 2007, but only after some intervention by South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskinas.Watson will now, after criticising the Springbok emblem and the way rugby is governed in the country, have to answer for himself at a disciplinary hearing.The date of the hearing is yet to be confirmed, but the loose forward is almost sure to miss out on next month’s tour to Europe.The Boks are set to play three Tests, against Wales, Scotland and England, in November.Nampa-AFP