A South African rugby player, Bees Roux, has been arrested following the death of a Pretoria policeman in the city.
Details of the incident are still sketchy but reports indicate that the metro official was found beaten up in the middle of a street in the central business district during the early hours of this morning.
A case of murder has been opened against the 28-year-old, who plays for Super 14 champions, the Bulls.
Colonel Eugene Opperman of the South African Police Service told Press Association Sport: 'Yes, he was arrested earlier this morning. A case of murder had also been opened.'
His attorney Ernst Serfontein added: 'I believe there was an incident where a policeman died and I know he was involved in the incident.
'How he was involved I don't know yet, I can't tell you.'
Prop forward Roux, who joined the Bulls at the end of last season, has 31 Super 14 caps in total, gained while playing for the Cheetahs and Bulls.
He was not in the Currie Cup team to face the Pumas this weekend, but came on as a substitute during last week's match against Griquas.
A statement from the union, posted on their website www.thebulls.co.za, said: 'It has come to the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd's attention that Bees Roux has allegedly been involved in an incident involving a metro policeman last night in Pretoria.
'We do not have any factual information at this stage, but have been informed that the policeman passed away. We would like to express our sincerest condolences to the relatives of the deceased.
'We are not in a position to make any further comments in this regard.'
