Springbok decision deferred

Press, 19 April 1980, Page 1

Springbok decision deferred

PA Wellington The New Zealand Rugby Football Union’s council has deferred further consideration of a proposed New Zealand tour by a South African team in 1981 until its next meet* ing, on June 6. The N.Z.R.F.U.’s chairman (Mr C. A. Blazey) said after a council meeting yesterday that in view of a resolution passed at the N.Z.R.F.U.’s annual meeting on Thursday that the council discuss the proposed tour urgently and form a policy as soon as possible, the council had discussed the matter yesterday. ... “It decided to consider all the matters relating to

it and the subject will be on the agenda for each subsequent meeting of council,” he said. Asked about the possible timing of an, invitation to the South African Rugby Board, Mr Blazey said that it could be left until the end of this year if necessary. Arrangements for the British Lions team for their tour of South Africa, which will begin next month, had been made less than five months before the tour had been scheduled to start. There had been no discussion by the council yesterday about the possibility of an alternative tour’s being arranged for

next year if the Springbok visit were cancelled. Asked about the compositiori of a Springbok team if it were invited, Mr Blazey said, “If we did issue an invitation for a South African team to come to New Zealand it would be for a merit-se-lected team. We would expect a mixed-race team to come.” Of an. April 9 letter to the council from the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Taiboys), Mr Blazey said the council would not be in a position to make a substantive reply at least until after its next meeting. Asked whether he considered progress had being

made in recent years in overcoming racial segregation in South African sport, he said he could not outline all the deveb opments but he gave two examples. He referred to the South African Barbarians team which toured Britain last year. He said it had . included eight black, eight coloured, and eight white players. There was also multi-racial representation on South African selection panels. Mr Taiboys said last evening that the Government would not support a tour of New Zealand by a multi-racial South African team while the Gleneagles agreement remained.

“The Gleneagles agreement deals with apartheid,” he said. “That system continues to exist.” Mr Taiboys said that a multi-racial team which reflected multi-racial sport was one thing but a multiracial team that was “simply cosmetic” was something else. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) yesterday congratulated Mr Taiboys on his stand. He said Mr Taiboys was to be commended for spelling out “so clearly and so firmly the vital issues and responsibilities at stake” Mr Don’s views: back page.