Views Changed On S.A. Tour

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30924, 3 December 1965, Page 3

Views Changed On S.A. Tour

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, December 2.

There is a strong feeling among members of the council of the New Zealand Rugby Union that New Zealand should not accept an invitation to tour South Africa next year unless the South African Rugby Board’s invitation allow Maoris to be chosen.

The discussion on the South African tour will be taken in committee at the meeting of the council tomorrow, but it is expected there will be a statement issued suggesting that unless the invitation from the South African board is satisfactory the tour should be postponed. 1

The chairman of the council (Mr T. C. Morrison) said today that since 1960 the whole thinking of the council on future tours of South Africa had been that Maoris would be able to tour. There had been no change in this feeling, even with the latest developments in South Africa. Mr Morrison said he could say no more than that negoiations were still being conducted with South Africa, and the council could not really make a decision until the invitation was issued by the South African board.

At the end of this year's Springbok tour some councillors had said privately that the All Blacks should tour even if Maoris were excluded. But recent events have changed that line of thought, and members now feel the New Zealand union should make a stand. The invitation to tour

South Africa will not be received until next April, but unless a fully representative team is invited it is expected that the New Zealand union will postpone the tour to 1970 to see if the situation has improved by then.

The Rhodesian situation has influenced some council members, who previously supported an all-white team, to favour Maoris being included. Rhodesia is a member of the South African Rugby Federation and if the All Blacks toured South Africa they would, as a matter of course, play in Rhodesia. Public protests against an all-white team and possibly pressure from the Government have not sw’ayed council members in the matter but they now feel South Africa has dictated on the selection of a team for too long and the time has come for a .stand to be made.

Tbe strong line the New Zealand union is expected to take on the matter will have an important bearing on the composition of the New Zealand party to attend the International Rugby Board’s meeting later this year. Four men, Messrs Morrison, C. A. Blazey, W. A. Craddock and J. N. King are available to go as delegates, but Mr Morrison and Mr Blazey are now almost certain to be sent. If the New Zealand union decides to postpone the 1967 tour, it will have to arrange an alternative tour or visit to New Zealand. It is certain there will be co-operation from the International Board if New Zealand does not tour South Africa as there is a growing feeling among the Home unions that South Africa is becoming an embarrassment.!