Paris -The Springboks on Tuesday accepted an apology from the French rugby federation (FFR) over the butchered rendition of the South African anthem by an off-key reggae singer, Ras Dumisani.

The FFR had initially ducked blame for the patchy performance by the Durban native before the game against South Africa in Toulouse on Friday, won 20-13 by the home side, saying the South African embassy had recommended the artist.

But the South African Rugby Union (SARU) said Tuesday that after complaints first lodged early Saturday, it had finally received an apology from the FFR.

"In it, Mr Pierre Camou, the president of the FFR, offers his Union's sincere apologies to the South African Rugby Union and shares SARU's shock at what he also describes as a 'debacle', of which his union was also a victim," the SARU said.

Camou also explained that Dumisani had rehearsed before the event, with the trial run having gone smoothly.

"The French Union has offered its unreserved apologies and I have accepted them on behalf of SARU," said SARU president Oregan Hoskins.

"I am still at a loss to understand how this artist was allowed to be in a position to deliver such an appalling rendition of our cherished anthem - something that would never be allowed to happen in this country.

"But I obviously accept that there was no deliberate intent by the FFR to sabotage the anthem and, as much as the performance still rankles, we regard the matter as now closed."

Dumisani on Monday apologised for "horribly singing" the anthem but blamed French organisers for sub-standard equipment.

"I do apologise to the whole nation for doing something like that you know, I didn't sing, I was just shouting and screaming. And I feel so sorry," he told South African radio station Metro FM.

Dumisani added that the French were to blame for "sabotaging my performance with an old microphone and a bunch of school kids".

"I was in deep-deep trouble even before I started singing the anthem," he said.

"If the microphone was working, at least I could have harmonised some of the words."