Rassie stresses he didn't leak refereeing video during Lions series: 'I'm not this monster'

Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has opened up on the dramas surrounding last year's British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, insisting he had no part in leaking a video that publicly criticised Australian referee Nic Berry after the first Test. 

The 62-minute long video, in which Erasmus highlights numerous refereeing errors following his side's 22-17 loss to the Lions in the series opener on 24 July, 2021, was leaked onto social media the following week and went viral. 

Erasmus was later charged by World Rugby and banned from attending any matches for a year for his public criticism. 

Now, in a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Mail, Erasmus has opened up on what became known as 'Rassiegate', insisting that he had no part in the video being made public. 

"Listen, I have never been a suit-and-tie guy who claims to be a saint," he said.

"I have never said I will be a life coach. I have never had slogans like 'better people make better rugby players'. I have never said I'm the world's greatest father. Yeah, I've always been a bit naughty and enjoyed a giggle, but I've always been an honest guy.

"People think I leaked that video. I didn't. Who leaks something like that? Why would I screw up my whole career to do that? I've got twin girls, 18 years old, who are at school and they hear other parents telling them how their dad had f***** it all up. 

"My mum is at an old-age home and they're showing her articles saying, 'Rassie's lost it, he's got depression, he's drunk'. They think those things because they are indoctrinated that I leaked that video. I want to tell the world that, swearing on my youngest child's life, I did not leak that video. 

"Many people have already made up their mind. How do you change people's