A South African rugby player has apologised to a Sydney boys’ high school after he was caught urinating during a training session on school grounds ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Wallabies at Allianz Stadium.
The South African rugby team arrived in Sydney on Sunday following their 25-17 loss to Australia on Saturday in Adelaide. Before the team’s arrival, the Springboks organised for training sessions at Randwick Boys’ High School.
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, who has not been identified, 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,” the official said.
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. 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.
The team has a day off on Thursday before their captain’s run on Friday ahead of their clash with the Wallabies.
Randwick Boys’ High has invited other rugby teams, including the Wallabies, to use their facilities in the past. Wallabies representatives Jack Maddocks, Tom Robertson, Tolu Latu and others visited the school in 2018.
The Springboks, who defeated England 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan, have not beaten the Wallabies in Australia since 2013.
The team is under pressure from fans back in South Africa after their latest eight-point loss in Adelaide.
Coach Jacques Nienaber has made nine changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s match after a below-par performance to begin their Australian tour.
The Springboks have one more match in Australia before facing Argentina in their final two Rugby Championship fixtures.
Excitement is building in both Australian and South African camps ahead of the first rugby Test to be played at the $830 million Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Wallabies last played at the Sydney Football Stadium in June 2018 against Ireland before the venue was knocked down.
More than 40,000 fans are expected to attend the match at Moore Park.
