The Star reported that he used the word “coconut” during a game between the Sharks and New Zealand’s Chiefs on Saturday.

The word was used after Chiefs wing Lelia Masaga clashed heads with Sharks speedster Lwazi Mvovo, while attempting to go for a high ball. Both players were injured and left the field.

“Lelia Masaga has gone head high in an absolute coconut tackle straight onto Lwazi Mvovo and tried to take his head off,” he said at the time.

Later Skinstad said he had misunderstood the meaning.

Chief’s loose forward Scott Waldrom had tweeted: “Does the SA commentator know that the term ’coconut tackle’ is actually a derogatory term?” 

Skinstad replied: “Heard the term and thought it meant aiming for the ’nut’ — no harm meant sorry.” 

Twitter user @Broncos—NRL tweeted “coconut is a racist term to describe a pacific islander, it’s like calling a black man the N word”.