Controversial Springboks flanker Luke Watson has declared himself unavailable for the November internationals against Wales, Scotland and England, saying he had become the victim of a media witch-hunt.
'After serious consideration and prayer, I have decided to withdraw my availability for the national rugby side for the end of year overseas rugby tour,' Watson said in a statement.
The loose forward's withdrawal comes just days after the South African Rugby Union said that Watson would face a disciplinary hearing following inflammatory remarks he allegedly made at a rugby function earlier this month.
Watson was quoted in an article on website rugby365.com as saying that 'the problem with SA Rugby is that it is controlled by Dutchmen (Afrikaans-speaking white South Africans)'.
He said the 'bigger picture' kept him from vomiting on the Springbok jersey and that 'the men who sit on my left and right of me in the change room despise me for who I am'.
In his statement, Watson said he was the victim of a concerted media campaign to undermine his efforts to highlight the lack of transformation in South African rugby.
'It is very clear to me that a hidden hand is at work crafting spurious allegations and half truths as to what I was purported to have said,' Watson said.
'The very same group of instigators has conducted a trial by media, without affording me an opportunity for stating my case at the appropriate time and in the proper forum, given this trial by media to do so at this stage serves no purpose.
'I am withdrawing due to the ongoing controversy that has been deliberately created as a result of my stance on matters of transformation.
'Should I have been selected for the national rugby team; my mere presence would have sustained this destructive pattern.
'I wish to assure the rugby supporting public that I remain committed and dedicated to South African rugby and to this wonderful democracy of ours, however, I will never sacrifice the ideals and beliefs regarding transformation in rugby that the majority of South Africans hold dear to their hearts.'
A date has yet to be set for Watson's disciplinary hearing.
Watson's father Cheeky was an outspoken anti-racism activist during the apartheid era who declined the opportunity to participate in Springbok trials as a promising player because of his convictions and has made no secret of his displeasure with the game's current administration.
