On the field Schalk Burger has a reputation for being the hard man, relishing the big bruising hits and not afraid of getting his hands dirty. The same was often said of his father Schalk Senior, who represented the Boks as a lock during the 1980’s isolation era.

Now he stands accused of attempted murder, one of his former employees claiming the well-known figure tried to kill him using a quad bike.

IOL reports:

Johannes Bitterhout, who was fired three years ago, claims Burger shouted at him to “f*k*f” off his farm, Welbedacht Wine Estate in Wellington, before ramming into him with the bike.

But Burger said on Wednesday that Bitterhout had been drunk and was lying through his teeth.

He says Bitterhout was so drunk that he fell over in the road and used Burger’s quad bike to help himself back up again.

Bitterhout was taken to hospital with a bleeding arm and bruises.

Burger’s lawyer, Fanie le Roux, said: “My client [Burger] denies that he drove over the complainant.

“He drove with his quad bike through the farmhouses and the gentleman had been inebriated and words were exchanged.

“The man fell to the ground and pulled himself up using the bike.”

As it stands Burger Senior has not yet been arrested, although police have confirmed that a charge of attempted murder was made against him.

[source:iol]