In its first public comment on the matter, SA Rugby has brushed off the saga involving Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies as just “hearsay” and “gossip”.
Jantjies was on Sunday sent home from the Springboks’ base in Argentina to attend to “personal reports” amid accusations of inappropriate behaviour.
According to an article in Afrikaans weekly Rapport, the 46-Test Springbok flyhalf allegedly spent a romantic and tumultuous night with the Springboks’ team dietician.
In an official statement on Sunday, SA Rugby said that no further comment would be made on the matter, but on Monday president Mark Alexander told Netwerk24 they are still trying to establish the facts.
“We have very strict team rules and the management team will deal with the issue,” Alexander said.
“I don’t want to dig into anyone’s personal life because all the information is hearsay right now. It’s still just gossip.”
Alexander added that if it is established that Jantjies broke team rules, action will be taken, but challenged the anonymous sources who disclosed the information to Rapport to go public.
“If people are so serious about what happened, they should go on the record about what they know,” said Alexander.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
