Springbok tour manager

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33065, 4 November 1972, Page 46

Springbok tour manager

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) CAPE TOWN. The controversial president of the Transvaal Rugby Union, Mr Jannie le Roux, is strongly tipped to be manager of the Springbok team to visit New Zealand next year. Mr le Roux’s name is among three candidates for the post, but the South African Rugby Board has hinted that "certain names might not be considered at all because of constitutional omissions.” The other two, to whom the “omissions” are believed to refer, are Mr Kobus Louw, second-in-command on the national board, and Mr F. Lochner, who managed the Springboks on a tour of Australia last year.

Mr le Roux has been dubbed the “dictator” of Transvaal Rugby by newspapers who objected to his brusque refusal to share the board’s secrets with journalists.

When an England team toured South Africa earlier this year, blame was heaped on Mr le Roux for the Springboks’ failure to turn up at a cocktail party for the victorious English. Voting on the election is due on November 10, and reports say that Messrs Louw and Lochner have only a slender chance of having their nominations considered.

The board has yet to decide, however, on whether nominations from the floor will be considered.