Pretoria - Blue Bulls player Bees Roux has been charged with murder after allegedly beating a policeman to death in Pretoria.
Roux's lawyer says his client intends to plead not guilty. He says Roux claims his car was being stolen and that he was acting in self defense.
The 28-year-old Blue Bulls prop spent the weekend in jail and appeared in court Monday.
He is accused of killing Sgt. Ntshimane Mogale, 38, in the early hours of August 27.
The court heard Roux had been pulled over on suspicion of drink driving and that Mogale may have been driving him home when an altercation broke out.
Roux won the 2010 Super 14 rugby title with the Bulls.