Border CD rugby players accused of theft

Allegations of theft made against the Border Country Districts team on Saturday, the final day of the U18 Academy Week tournament at Hoërskool Middelburg in Mpumalanga, will be investigated, the SA Rugby Schools’ Association said on Sunday.

The academy week was held with the prominent U18 Craven Week at the same school and Border had two teams, Central Academy and Country Districts (CD), for the tournament. 

It is alleged that members of the Border CD team had entered the Eastern Province hostel rooms and stolen items including kit, day clothes, phone chargers, cologne and shoes. 

In the afternoon, when the EP and Border Central teams arrived back at the hostel, EP players noticed their rooms and suitcases had been opened.

It was said that one of the cleaning staff had allegedly found Border CD boys in the EP rooms.

The staff member is said to have asked what they were doing in the “red team’s” rooms and was told they were using the bathrooms. 

The staff member said the boys had been wearing the same brown kit as worn by Border Central team.

Border CD were scheduled to play Griquas at 11am, but their captain was not present during the coin toss, which was done at the halftime mark of the previous game and they were the only team remaining at the hostel, it was alleged.

Eastern Province Rugby Schools chair Phillip Bosch confirmed there had been an incident on Saturday, but said they were still in consultation with the SA Rugby Schools’ Association and the Border Rugby Schools’ Association regarding a way forward. 

SA Rugby Schools’ Association chair Noel Ingle said: “We are aware of the alleged incident.

“Everyone is co-operating at the moment.

“We are trying to find out what really happened.”

He said that during his tenure as chair of the association they had never had to deal with a similar case.

Border Rugby Schools’ Association chair Katiso Mosioua, who attended the Academy Week but left for KwaBhaca on Friday to attend to a family matter, said he had received a report regarding the theft allegations on Saturday.   

He said they were conducting an internal investigation and a virtual meeting had been scheduled.

“We want to establish what happened,” he said.

“We are prepared to apologise to EP and also suspend those involved from Border, if indeed the incident happened.

“We will engage with their schools as well and put the children in counselling programmes if they are involved.

“As Border we don’t tolerate such incidents.

“From management down, there will be consequences for those who are found to be guilty.”

Border sent 23 players to represent the CD team.

Daily Dispatch