 Robbie Fleck joined Bath last year |
Bath's South African centre Robbie Fleck could be forced to return home to defend himself against legal action. In a magazine interview, Fleck was quoted as describing the president of the South Africa Rugby Football Union, Brian van Rooyen, as a "racist".
Van Rooyen has taken out a civil action against Fleck and is reportedly considering further action.
Bath director of rugby John Connelly has described the matter as "a storm in a teacup."
Van Rooyen said: "I have made a complaint to the Human Rights Commission.
"Because the magazine is available in Britain we are able to pursue the matter with police in Bath."
Fleck left South Africa last year after a row with then-national coach Rudolf Straeuli.
Connelly added: "Robbie did the interview months ago and made some remarks off the record which were taped. Our legal guys have looked at it and there is no issue."
But a spokesman for South Africa's National Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Makhosini Nkosi, said that if the complaint was pursued, Fleck could be extradited.
"We do have an extradition treaty with the UK, and extraditions are normally done through the Justice Department," he said.
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