Lions upset the press

Press, 9 June 1977, Page 6

Lions upset the press

PA Dunedin Otago Rugby Union officials were upset last night at the actions of the Lions management and players in taking over a room underneath the main Carisbrook grandstand set aside for the press. The room, to protide comfortable facilities for the large press contingent following the tour to work immediately after the match, adjoined the dressing room set aside for the Lions and had access to the changing room through a shower room. An Otago Rugby Union executive member, Mr John Dowling, was told in no uncertain terms to remove himself when he entered the press room to usher in journalists in a hurry to despatch their match reports. Mr Dowling said when he entered the room he found it had been taken over by the Lions

manager, Mr George Burrell, the eoach. John Dawes, and some of the Lion's nonplayers of yesterday, who were availing themselves of refreshments ordered for the press.

“I was ordered out and because of the tone of the language used I did not argue,” Mr Dowling said last night. The N.Z.R.F.U. tour liaison officer. Mr Peter Wild, got a similar response when he tried to resolve the matter. Mr Burrell said afterwards he had instructed early in the tour that noone was to be allowed near the team immediately after the game. An upset Mr Dowling said last night he would ask his union to ensure that when the Lions returned to Carisbrook for the Third Test they were given the inferior No 4 dressing room at one end of the stand to keep thew away from the press room.