South Africa's rugby boss has accepted an apology from his French counterpart over the poorly sung anthem at last week's Test match.

Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union, had demanded an explanation after a singer was accused of mangling the South African national anthem before the match in southern France last week.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hoskins said Pierre Camou of the French Rugby Union offered unreserved apologies.

Hoskins says he accepts that French rugby officials did not deliberately try to "sabotage the anthem and, as much as the performance still rankles, we regard the matter as now closed."

France won the match 20-13.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP