LESS PROFIT

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 14

LESS PROFIT

(NJ P A. Staff Correspondent) LONDON. In spite of the cost of securing grounds against demonstrators and the smaller crowds caused by boycotts and protests, the English Rugby Union expects to show a hefty profit on the Springboks’ tour, which ended on Saturday. A figure of £200.000 ($428,000) has been suggested, although some Rugby officials expect the profit to be less. However, whatever the profit it is! likely to be about £50,000: less than what might normally have been expected from a Springbok tour. , Substantial costs went to reinforcing grounds against the demonstrators, and two venues had to be replaced by less desirable grounds because the original grounds could not be adequately defended.

Police costs had to be paid —estimated at £lo,ooo— attendances were much smaller than normal, partly because of spectator protest against apartheid and also because parts of several grounds were closed for Springbok matches. Nevertheless, the secretary of the English Union (Mr R. E. Prescott), said the tour was definitely a financial success. Whether it was politically successful was a complicated question, but it had! done nothing to harm South Africa’s Rugby relationship with Britain, he added. “From the Rugby point of view It was of enormous value, especially in that I think it gave the United Kingdom players the feeling that the superiority of South Africa, and perhaps of New Zealand too, can be overcome.”