Rassie Erasmus laughs off story about urinating Springboks player

Rassie Erasmus has laughed off a newspaper article claiming that a complaint was made against an unnamed Springboks player for urinating during a training session this week in the lead-up to Saturday’s Rugby Championship match versus the Wallabies in Sydney.

The Springboks have been training at Randwick Boys’ High School since their arrival from Adelaide following last weekend’s round three defeat to Australia and a story exclusively published by the Sydney Morning Herald has caught the attention of Erasmus, the South African director of rugby.

A tweet promoting the story written by SMH journalist Tom Decent read: “Exclusive: The Springboks have apologised to a Sydney high school after a player was caught urinating at training ahead of the weekend's match against the Wallabies.”

The allegation was quickly taken to task by Erasmus, however, who replied on Twitter: “We always worry and listen to South African people and totally understand and accept the negative and positive advice and comments!

“So again, South Africans thank you for always being there for us! We only accept South African pressure!!! Tom, I don’t think many South African fans will take you serious man.”

In the article, it was claimed that an unnamed Springboks player had apologised after he was caught urinating during a training session on school grounds. It read: “Sources familiar with the incident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Herald an incident took place during a training session at the school on Monday afternoon.

“A Springboks team management official said the player walked away during training to an isolated location near trees ‘as it was unfortunately an urgent call of nature'. The player apologised to the school headmaster.

“Sources say the incident was witnessed by the school’s principal, Lance Raskall, and one other adult. South African management was quickly alerted to the incident after a complaint was made. The tourists were told their behaviour was not appreciated given the school had been kind enough to let the reigning world champions use their facilities.

“When contacted by the Herald on Wednesday afternoon, Raskall denied any incident had taken place relating to the South African team this week. However, a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education later confirmed an incident did occur at the school but stressed no students from Randwick Boys’ High witnessed the Springboks player urinating on the field.

“The training session did not begin until school had finished on Monday, but the oval where the team trained could have been viewed by people on the street. Following discussions, the Springboks were granted permission to continue training at the school, which they did on Tuesday and Wednesday.”