Wanderers and Roodepoort rugby clubs investigate racist remarks
ILLOVO – It has been alleged by the Wanderers players that racist abuse directed at a team member was the cause of the fight.
The Roodepoort Rugby Club (RRC) is still investigating an incident that took place on 25 April during their U21 team’s match against Wanderers Rugby Club (WRC).
“RRC is collecting the different match reports and potential evidence in regards to the discriminatory incident reported in the media and on the Wanderers Rugby Club social media channels,” said Roxy Roux, chairman of the Roodepoort Rugby Club.
He added that management is awaiting disciplinary hearings to be hosted by the Golden Lions Rugby Union early next week until a way forward is established.
Roux said the management team at Roodepoort Rugby Club takes allegations of racism very seriously as the club is a fully integrated club. “If any of the players or training staff are found to have breached the club code of conduct or any of the laws of the Republic of South Africa by engaging in racist behaviour they will be dealt with accordingly.”
It was said that the RRC players physically and verbally abused WRC players by referring to black players with the k-word and ‘development players’, which the referee did not reprimand.
According to the statement released by the WRC, it stated the referee was confrontational and prejudicial against their team and said they hope the matter will be handled with urgency and firmness.
“Wanderers Club is committed to growing the amateur game by including people of different races, colours and creed of society. The behaviour witnessed on that night is against the fundamental rule of South African society and does nothing to attract more people to the game, much less the club game,” the WRC committee wrote in their statement.
The RRC has denied the claims made by the WRC in their statement and expressed their disappointment in which the matter was handled.
Were you at the match when these actions took place? Share your photos with us by emailing them to koketsor@caxton.co.za
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