Johannesburg (AFP)

South African international Eben Etzebeth was cleared by the South African rugby federation of charges of racist insults against him after an internal investigation, several local media and a spokesperson for SA Rugby said on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Springbok 2nd line, who plays at RC Toulon (France), was accused in 2019 of having uttered racist insults against four men in August in Langebaan, 120 kilometers north of Cape Town. He also allegedly assaulted and pointed a gun at a 42-year-old homeless person.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) filed a complaint against him in October and an internal investigation had been initiated by SA Rugby. The latter, led by a former judge, concluded that there was nothing to pursue the case.

"The independent investigation has been carried out and the case is now closed from the point of view of SA Rugby," the spokesperson told AFP, without giving further details.

But this decision does not extinguish the other proceedings launched against the South African world champion.

The president of the SAHRC, Bongani Majola, told AFP that the trial against Etzebeth "is still relevant and will have to be settled in court".

"SA Rugby's decision has no impact on the two lawsuits ... which he still has to face," he added.

© 2020 AFP