Dossier details racism in SA camp Rugby World Cup

RUGBY WORLD CUP: The claims of unity in the Springbok camp made recently by former skipper Joost van der Westhuizen and current incumbent Corne Krige are in danger of being blown apart by further detailed allegations of racism and discord.

The allegations have been made by former Springbok communications manager Mark Keohane, whose dossier yesterday was published on the internet. Keohane resigned from his job prior to the World Cup because of his concerns over racism in South African rugby.

With South Africa's opening Pool C clash against Uruguay just three days away the Springboks are at the centre of Keohane's allegations that black players in the national squad were made to feel "dirty and inferior" in the wake of an alleged racist incident that occurred during a pre-Rugby World Cup training camp in South Africa. Keohane makes the claims in his 12,000 word dossier to the King Commission, which has been set up to investigate allegations of racism in South African rugby.

The dossier was published yesterday by News 24. But the South African Rugby Football Union released a statement yesterday afternoon distancing the Springboks from allegations of racism.

Keohane claims black Springboks in the national squad had been made to feel "dirty and inferior" following an alleged racial incident involving white second-row forward Geo Cronje and black counterpart Quinton Davids at the training camp last month. Both men subsequently failed to make the final 30-man Springbok squad for the tournament.

Keohane says concerns were conveyed to Krige in a meeting with the black players in the squad following the alleged refusal by Cronje to share a room with Davids because of the colour of his skin. A SARFU investigation later found Cronje not guilty.

In his dossier Keohane reports in the wake of Cronje's alleged request to be allowed to switch rooms, Krige met the black players on August 24th. The players at that meeting allegedly told Krige they believed Cronje took a stand through his actions and that the same player (Cronje) insulted them by refusing to share a room with Davids. The dossier reports Davids asked that Krige arrange a contact training session because he wanted to "physically **** up Cronje during this session. After the meeting with the black players, Keohane says Krige told him he would not condone any form of prejudice or racism and arranged to discuss the incident with Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli.

However, Keohane also claims he overheard Cronje make a comment about South Africa's cricket Test match against England, when Cronje is alleged to have asked in Afrikaans of die apie nog kolf which in English means "is the monkey still batting?". He was allegedly referring to black South African all-rounder Monde Zondeki.

Following the release of Keohane's dossier, SARFU responded by saying in a statement: "We have been assured by management that no issues of this sort exist in the Springbok camp."

In addition to the latest claims, it has also been suggested some players in the squad remain loyal to former skipper van der Westhuizen and look to him for leadership rather than Krige.