Sports-mad Roger Federer backs South Africa at Rugby World Cup

Self-confessed sports nut Roger Federer goes to watch games whenever his schedule allows and is in no doubt who he`ll be cheering at this year`s rugby World Cup -- South Africa.

The tennis great`s mother Lynette is South African -- she met his Swiss father Robert while he was working in Gauteng -- and this is where his allegiances lie.

"I`ll be supporting South Africa, of course," he said when asked who he will be cheering for.

But whether Federer gets to see the Springboks play is another question.

"I honestly don`t see it very often. I don`t know why. I don`t know where we are in the world when it`s happening, why I keep missing it," he said of the World Cup, which is in England this year.

"But I see cricket frequently (and) when we go to the States, we follow the American sports over there. 

"In Europe it`s more of the football, soccer. With rugby, for some reason I don`t see it enough. But I`ll be supporting South Africa."

Federer is a well-known fan of his hometown FC Basel football team and recently saw English Premier League heavyweights Arsenal play.

"I went to an Arsenal game during the World Tour Finals (in London). That was good fun. I try to go, but it`s not always that simple."

He added that he had seen the LA Lakers and Miami Heat while in the United States but had never been to a Formula One, although he had made it to Moto Grand Prix.

"There`s clearly many things I would like to do," he added.