Controversial Eastern Cape boss Cheeky Watson is embroiled in another storm after a newspaper reported he called Springbok coach Peter de Villiers "a baboon".

Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag reported that Watson, who campaigned hard for De Villiers to be chosen as Springbok coach but has since had a falling out with the Bok mentor, made the comments at a meeting of the EP Legends in December last year in Port Elizabeth.

The newspaper, which has a written statement from a member of the meeting, said that a heated discussion had taken place at the meeting over why De Villiers wanted to play a Springbok Test in Soweto — when members of the meeting felt it should have been played in Port Elizabeth.

During the discussion, the newspaper said, Watson allegedly referred to De Villiers as "a baboon who does not know what he is doing".

The newspaper reported that a complaint was laid with SA Rugby after another meeting on 29 January, when Watson made disparaging remarks about other rugby administrators as well.

An email was sent to Andy Marinos, SA Rugby's acting Managing Director, which asked that Watson be investigated for misconduct.

It seems no such investigation was ever launched.

In another move, Watson was served with a notice of court proceedings for defamation, after he attacked SA Rugby's regional manager Godfrey Afrika in an Eastern Cape newspaper this week, accusing him of trying to destabilise the region.

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