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It looks like Rondebosch Boys’ High School is embroiled in another legal situation as their rugby coach and coordinator is facing charges after allegedly assaulting a young player from an opposing team after a match.

Clinton van Rensburg is facing an ongoing criminal court battle in a case of assault against a former South African College High School (Sacs) student. It is alleged that Clinton assaulted the then-minor last year, on Saturday 13 August 2022, after a first-team rugby match between Rondebosch Boys’ High School and Sacs at Sacs in Newlands.

Daily Maverick received access to the court documents, which shows how the complainant alleges that Clinton struck him with a closed fist in his rib cage after the match had concluded. It was said that he did this just as the players and coaches were in the process of shaking hands. Oddly enough, Rondebosch had won the match 24-12.

The court documents stipulate that a medical practitioner confirmed that the complainant sustained “soft tissue bruises” and experienced “tenderness” to the “right lower rib cage.”

Once a professional rugby player for the Sharks and Lions in 2000 and 2001 respectively, Clinton has served as the rugby coordinator at Rondebosch Boys’ High School since 2009. At the same time, he has been the assistant rugby coach at the University of Cape Town since 2013.

Clinton was arrested last year and has made eight court appearances in the Wynberg Magistrates Court since then, while he is currently still employed at Rondebosch Boys’ High School.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge during his first appearance in court on 27 September 2022.

Rondebosch Boys’ High School headmaster, Shaun Simpson, backs Clinton all the way, saying that they are aware of the case and monitoring the outcome closely:

“It refers to an alleged assault in a very public space where, although present, spectators, coaches and educators from both schools in close proximity did not witness any incident and where there is photographic evidence which seems to show the contrary.

“Mr van Rensburg has worked with young men for more than a decade without any incidents of this nature and has an excellent reputation as a mentor and coach in club, provincial and schools’ rugby.

He went on to vehemently defend Clinton:

“Given his impeccable history, the testament of young men with whom he has worked in the past, and the disputed incident for which there is no evidence but the allegation which there is reason to believe may prove vexatious, leads us to conclude that we have no reason to be concerned for the safety of the minors with whom he is involved at our school.”

Clinton’s next court appearance is expected on August 7.

In June, it was reported that the school was forced to call in legal help to protect its first team coach Joel Carew after he received threats from an unhappy parent. The parent is apparently a well-known businessman in Cape Town, and allegedly confronted, abused and threatened Carew at a training session. This caused the headmaster to send a strongly-worded letter to parents, saying that the school had hired lawyers to handle any ‘intimidation tactics’.

Shame, Shaun has a lot on his plate.

[source:dailymaverick]