By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies has sought help at a rehabilitation centre in Cape Town to get his personal life and rugby career back on track.
Last month, Jantjies was sent home from the Springbok base in Argentina to deal with a scandal that broke in the Rapport, which claimed that Jantjies and Bok dietician Zeeant Simjee were partying in a Nelspruit guest house, although Simjee has denied vehemently that she was Jantjies’ companion.
Then on the day the Boks were to play the Pumas in Buenos Aries, speculation erupted in the media that Rapport was to publish a story about cocaine use by some of the Springboks.
That story was never published but now the newspaper has reported that a waiter at that guest house has come forward and claimed that Jantjies offered him/her illicit drugs.
On Friday, Jantjies released a statement on his Instagram account, saying he was seeking help to get his life back on track. This after the Bok player had been left out of a training group ahead of the national rugby team’s tour of Europe next month.
Jantjies said he was in a “good space mentally and physically” and further added: “I hope to return to the rugby field as a better man and player.
The former Lions player also said: “I have no doubt this decision will benefit me personally, my rugby career, my family, and SA’s faithful rugby supporters.”
The Springboks play four Tests in Europe next month.
Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has said that the World Cup door is not shut on Jantjies, and if he has taken the proactive step to get help for his personal problems, that door will open even wider.