Springbok tour of France ‘still on’

Press, 25 June 1979, Page 29

Springbok tour of France ‘still on’

PA Auckland “If the French Government is prepared tto sell Airbus jets to South Africa, why should it be agamst France playing rugby with the Spring-boks?”-asks Mr Yves Noe, manager of the French rugby team, touring New Zealand.

He said that as far as the French Rugby Federe’!on was concerned, the Springbok tour to France later this year was still on.

“The federation has beard the President of France and the Government are not in favour of the Springbok tour but so far the French federation has not received any official notice oL this disapproval, he saja<

"On the other hand, a recent meeting of all the clubs in the French championship voted that the Springbok tour should go ahead. ; lf . ’■"The people in France speaking out against the rugby, tour are the same nfeopte who spoke against French . golfers going 1 ’ to,. •

South Africa. The golfers

went. The same people spoke out against French tennis players going to South Africa. The tennis players went.” Mr Noe said that if the Springbok tour of France was stopped there was every possibility that France would tour South Africa instead. He could not elaborate on the length or timing of such a tour, as there had been no discussions with South Africa on an alternative tour. Before the present tour had started he had received letters from antiapartheid groups in New Zealand, but he did not feel that he should answer them. “When the president of the French federation (Mr Albert Ferrasse) comes to New Zealand I am sure he will be prepared to talk to the anti-apartheid people and the press about the Springbok tour,” he said. Mr Ferrasse is due to join the tour in time for the match against Hawke’s Bay at Napier on July 3.