Amin surprises

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33455, 9 February 1974, Page 46

Amin surprises

Ihe invitation from President Amin for the All Blacks to tour Uganda may show that Rugby is becoming more international, but the request has caused genuine surprise in New Zealand, writes J. K. Brooks. Little is known about the state of the game in Uganda, although President Amin himself was an enthusiastic forward in his days as a noncommissioned officer in the army. A series of crushing victories by the New Zealand side would be inevitable. and this would scarcely foster a warm relationship between the two countries.

The cost would create a problem. The president is reported to have said that Uganda would pay the All Blacks' expenses inside its borders. But this would probably not be acceptable to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The normal procedure is for the host country to meet all expenses —from the time the visiting team leaves its own shores until the time it returns. President Amin may not be aware of the cost of a

Rugby tour. It can run into! several hundred thousand; !dollars, and there must be; speculation whether the; ■Ugandan economy can bear; 'such a heavy cross. Probably for the first time, la Rugby invitation has been ! issued by a head of state. o : Uganda is not a member of the International Rugby j i Board, but it is desirable that prequests go to the approJpriate authority—the New pl Zealand Union. INDEPENDENT’ “Sport should be independent.” said Mr R. W. -IThomas, of Christhurch, a L member of the New Zealand -I Union’s council, last evening, o'“lnvitations should be I directed to the recognised

body. But I am not saying That invitations from countries outside the International Rugby Board group should not be sent.” The Press Association has reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent the invitation to the Prime Minister (Mr Kirk). “If there is to be an invitation, it should be brought up at the New Zealand council’s meeting in Wellington next Friday,” Mr Thomas said.