Invitation To South Africa

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31631, 18 March 1968, Page 1

Invitation To South Africa

(N.Z.P.A, Stag Correspondent.)

LONDON, March 17.

A formal invitation for the All Blacks to tour South Africa in 1970 will be issued by the South African Rugby Board.

Mr K C Maxey, a New Zealand delegate to the International Rugby Board annual meeting in Edinburgh, said today that representatives of the South African board had indicated an invitation would be issued "in due course.” Both Mr Blazey and his fellow New Zealand delegate, Mr J. L. Griffiths, discussed the tour with the two South African representatives in Edinburgh, Dr D. H. Craven and Mr Kobus Louw, yesterday and on Thursday. Mr Blazey declined to say whether the two South Africans had said Maoris would be acceptable members of a New Zealand team touring the Union.

“I will be able to tell you that when the invitation is received,” he said. Dr Craven confirmed the discussions with the two New Zealand representatives and said: "The talks were quite informal. I have no power to make hard and fast arrangements.”

Dr Craven, manager of the 1956 Springboks in New Zealand, is president of the South African Rugby Board. Mr Blazey said he was pleased that the board had seen fit to allow the replacement of injured players in matches involving an international team or teams.

Up to two replacements would now be permitted in both tests and other games involving an international side. The only qualification was the normal medical ruling that a player was not fit to continue playing.