Maoris to play against S. Africa

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32634, 16 June 1971, Page 30

Maoris to play against S. Africa

(N.Z. Press A»«n.—Copyright; PERTH The West Australian Rugby Union has picked three non-whites including two New Zealanders, in the team to play the Springboks on June 26.

R. Thompson, aged 24, a part-Maori, will be the team’s vice-captain. Another Maori, J. Graham, will play fiveeighths, and a Eurasian, H.

Pestana, aged 22, has been named as inside-centre. The state union’s secretary (Mr G. Newstead) said there was no element of provocation in naming coloured players in the team.

“They were picked on their merit—it's as simple as that —and it would be foolish to try to read anything more than that into it,” Mr Newstead said.

Among Perth clubs there is unanimity that Thompson, a regular in state sides since his arrival last year, is well and truly worth his place in the team.

He has played in New Zealand for the Maori All Blacks.

Graham is a full-blooded Maori who played in New Zealand last year for North Auckland and for the Bay of Plenty in 1968-69. "I have no objections to playing against any team, nor any objections to the way they ■ choose their team, Graham said. “At the same time it will not worry me if people protest Everyone has a right to express their opinions as long as it is not violent. “I do not want to comment on apartheid,” Graham said. Pestana, who holds strong views against apartheid, said: “In the first place I don’t think that the team should have been allowed to come here. However as it is coming, I feel I can do more for the anti-racism cause by playing than by sitting on the sidelines. “I don’t mind if people want to come to the match and protest,” Pestana said.