Loots update

August 15, 2006

South Africa Press Association (SAPA) update via Mail & Guardian:

Rugby death: Boland to lay charges

Cape Town, South Africa
27 July 2006 04:21

Charges of breaking the Boland Ruby Union's constitution will be laid after the death of a player in a club match in June, the union's lawyer confirmed on Thursday.

"We hope to serve the charges by Friday next week," said Chris Faure.

He declined to say how many people would be charged, or what the specifics of the charges were.

Faure was speaking after a meeting of the union's executive council, which considered recommendations received from advocate Ismail Jamie.

Jamie chaired an investigation into a headline-grabbing incident of rugby violence in which Riaan Loots from Rawsonville rugby club was fatally injured during a match against the Delicious club.

Faure said certain individuals and clubs would be charged, but refused to divulge further particulars, claiming it would be "highly unethical" of him to do so when those facing charges had themselves not been informed.

He said a disciplinary committee, under the chairpersonship of advocate Schalk Burger, would also be convened to hear the matters as soon as possible.

Two players from the Delicious rugby team of Ceres have already appeared in the Rawsonville Magistrate's Court on charges of murder following the death of flyhalf Loots.

-- Sapa

Riaan Loots archive.