SARU hit back in blackmail row

The South Africa Rugby Union have denied that coach Peter de Villiers was blackmailed into selecting a player against his wishes.

Reports on Saturday suggested that the tactician was the victim of a blackmail plot involving a player and official, who had threatened to reveal information about the coach if the player was ever dropped from the squad.

No names were mentioned in the report and now the SARU have issued a statement to categorically deny the story.

"Peter de Villiers and the South African Rugby Union categorically deny that there have ever been any attempts to blackmail or coerce him over the selection of any player to the national squad, as alleged in a report that appeared in Saturday's Weekender newspaper," the statement said.

"However SARU can confirm that a company employee did approach Mr de Villiers on August 15 in Cape Town. The employee made certain extraordinary claims which SARU has since looked into but has been unable to find any basis to support in fact.

"The employee was advised on August 25 that he would be called to an internal misconduct hearing, the charge sheet for which is still being prepared."