South Africa fly-half Elton Jantjies has denied he had an affair with Springbok team dietician Zeenat Simjee.
Married fly-half Jantjies and dietician Simjee left the squad on Monday amid reports in South Africa the pair have been having an affair. It came just months after Jantjies was detained at an airport over allegations about his behaviour on a flight that allegedly saw damage caused to a plane.
Other than a cryptic social media post, Jantjies had kept his counsel to date - although he has now released a statement in which he denied having an affair with Simjee. However, he did still apologise for his behaviour.
Jantjies reportedly rented a room at two guesthouses in Mbombela, away from the team's base, prior to the match against New Zealand last month. It has been alleged that Simjee was with him on at least one of those occasions.
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“I do not want to say much about the newspaper article, except that it contains many untruths and half-truths,” Jantjies said in a statement.
“For the record: The Springboks dietician Zeenat Simjee was never with me at either of the two guest houses that I stayed at. She is a good friend and nothing more. That her good name is now being dragged through the mud is a shame.
“I will now concentrate on getting my life and career back on track and wish to do so privately, so this will be my only statement on this matter.”
SA Rugby have stayed relatively quiet on the matter, issuing just one statement to confirm that no team protocols had been breached, but that the individuals involved were "returning to South Africa to attend to these personal reports and to eliminate any distractions to the team’s preparations" ahead of this weekend's Rugby Championship match with Argentina.
Jantjies' wife, Iva Ristic, is the mother of his three children has spoken out this week about her husband's behaviour. She told media this week she was unlikely to stay with Jantjies, while also hitting out at the South African management.
Despite denying the accusations, Jantjies did offer an apology - although he did not admit to anything specific.
“I am aware that newspaper articles about my recent behaviour caused a lot of disappointment, distress, and anger to many people, and I apologise unreservedly to everybody I hurt or disappointed, my teammates, the Springbok management team, and SA Rugby," he added in his statement.
“I also want to apologise to the management and squad of my club in Japan, NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
“As a Springbok rugby player, I am a public figure, a role model and hero to many South Africans, and I am expected to adhere to a high standard of moral values. My intention was always to make myself, my family, and my fans proud, not only through my performances on the field of play but also through my behaviour in public.
“I sadly let myself, my family, and the rugby-loving people of this country down, and I deeply regret my actions. I did not do the Springbok jersey - a jersey that I revered since I was just a little boy - proud.
“I take full responsibility for my actions, and I am serious about doing everything in my power to change my behaviour. I want to restore the confidence those closest to me once had in me and win back the trust of the public. I hope that I can rebuild those relationships that got damaged or broken.
“Thank you to those who kept on supporting me during this difficult time for my family and me. I appreciate it.”
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