Rugby tour protest wasted

Press, 9 June 1980, Page 21

Rugby tour protest wasted

PA’ Wellington •The tacit protest by six members of a group opposing sports contacts with South Africa at the New Zealand Rugby Union offices on Friday in Wellington w'as a wasted exercise, as far as the N.Z.R.F.U. was concerned.

After the meeting of the union's council, the chairman, Mr Ces Blazey, said: “We have no statement to make.”

“At our last meeting, we said that the subject of the Springboks’ tour would be on the agenda of future meetings and at the appropriate time, a statement w'ould be made,” he said. “But there is no statement.”

Mr Blazey also gave the same reply to a question about the recent shift by the former All Black lock, Frank Oliver, from Otago to Manaw'atu.

i Oliver played for his new [province two w'eeks ago 'against Counties, without ■ technically having correctly ; met the criteria as set down I by the N.Z.R.F.U. After that game at Pukekohe, won 21-19 by Mana-

watu, the host, union chairman, Mr Vic Hinton; jaid that there was':-“no .way*’ Counties. would appeal against Oliver's appearance and possibly cause the forfeit of the two championship points earned by Manawatu.

Any player who takes part [ [in advertising, such as the] All Black. Andy Haden, on' television, will be in-1 vestigated. | “It happens often, and wei always inquire about every-1 body we know about,” said: Mr. Blazey. Inter-island teams will be! named on July 22, the New! Zealand XV to meet Fiji on August 30. the New Zealand Juniors and Colts on June 19, and the All Black touring team to Wales on September 14, the day after the “test” against Fiji at Auck-I land.

The manager of the Newj Zealand Maoris team against* Fiji will be Mr Ivan Voda-i novich, and the coach Mr Peter Erceg. The North Is-i land team manager will be; Mr Peter Wild and thej South’s will be Mr Stuarti Sharp, with Mr Barry Brace-! well and Mr Morrie Dixon j as the respective coaches.