The Leon Boshoff saga that rocked Lions, and indeed South African, rugby in the past fortnight has once again highlighted one of the biggest problems in the country — the 'racial' undertones that bedevil the sport.

And even though the Lions' forwards coach, Boshoff, was cleared on a charge of making an alleged racial slur towards some of his players, exactly what he said that caused the furore was not revealed — TILL NOW!

iafrica.com can reveal, EXCLUSIVELY, what it was that caused flyhalf Earl Rose to contact his father, as well as Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, to complain about Boshoff's outburst.

This led to the coach's suspension and a subsequent hearing — on the charges that he allegedly used "racial remarks" and "abusive language" during a team meeting.

The remarks Boshoff made followed the Lions' record 18-56 loss to the Stormers at Newlands a fortnight ago and which resulted in the GLRU suspending Boshoff.

This website can also confirm that at the Golden Lions Rugby Union disciplinary hearing - where he was charged with having used "racial remarks" and "abusive language" — two senior players, hooker Willie Wepener and lock Jannes Labuschagne, backed Boshoff's version of the team meeting that caused the furore.

This is what Boshoff said at that infamous team meeting: "We, as a coaching team, will lose our jobs if we continue in this vein. You [the players] are dropping coach Loffie [head coach Eugene Eloff] and that after all that he has done for you.

"Coach Loffie will get another job, he is a good coach and is well respected in the coaching world — even abroad.

"I have a wife and two children who I must take care of, as well as doctor [Gerhard] Jordaan [conditioning coach] and the rest of the management.

"You are all professional players and won't lose your contracts. Coaches come and go and you, as players, will continue if new coaches come in. Earl, Lawrence — you know coloured [non-white] players are in demand and will have less trouble retaining your contracts."

This version of Boshoff's outburst was confirmed by Wepener and Labuschagne at the hearing and is the reason why he was cleared on the racial charge.

  • What do you make of thsi whole situation? Leave a comment below!

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