N.Z. “cool” to French threat

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 14

N.Z. “cool” to French threat

"The Presti” Special Service AUCKLAND. Mr J. L. Sullivan, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union council, gave a cool answer to some threats by France that future French-New Zealand tours might be in jeopardy.

Mr Sullivan was com-’ menting on statements, by the secretary of the French Rugby Federation, Mr J. C. Bourrier, and reported in the French sports newspaper, “L’Equipe.” Unless New Zealand accepted some sort of reciprocal tour arrangement with France, said Mr Bourrier, France might well consider cancelling its projected tour of New Zealand in 1979. “At the moment we have difficulties with New ZeaI land,” said Mr Bourrier in “L’Equipe.” “Having made two tours : there we could logically expect the All Blacks to make at any rate an eight-match or nine-match tour in France. “True, they will play four matches in France in February, after their British tour, but a tour devoted exclu-

sively to France could not, they say, be made before 1980, a year after our pro* posed third tour of New Zealand. “Everything possible will be done by us to ensure ‘an All Blacks tour of France before that. “If this is impossible,” said Mr Bourrier, “we may well envisage cancelling our proposed visit to New Zealand in 1979. There must be the sort of reciprocity that South Africa and Australia afford us.” Mr Sullivan said that a programme of tours reaching into the 1980 s had been agreed to by the International Rugby Board in 1970. I “France have since suggested that we make an earlHer tour there,” said Mr Sulllivan, “and at the moment pur tours sub-committee is I looking into the matter. “There has been no state- ‘ ment that we w’ill not be able Ito tour France before 1980.”