Arthur Lydiard favours S.A. rugby tour

Press, 22 October 1980, Page 14

Arthur Lydiard favours S.A. rugby tour

NZPA Dunedin The athletics coach, Arthur Lydiard, believes that the proposed South African rugby tour of New Zealand next winter should go ahead because “it is important to stop politics interfering m sport.” . . . : . Mr Lydiard believes that it is important for. New Zealan-; ‘ to retain the right to invite whom they to visit* whatever country they choose. . “If is a right, and we have . tOx treasure it, Mr Lvdiard said in an interview in Dunedin. “It should not be encroached on. If we are going to start banning .-eople for political reasons we should not have any Russians or some of the black African nations - come to New Zealand. . “We ■ should not have ariv economic ties with So”uth - Africa. Why should it- affect only the sports people? “A South African squash plaver could not come to New Zealand because! it: \Vas thought it might affect, the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in 1982. Yet that same man was playing in Australia at the time. It is verging on the ludicrous; it is an insult to our intelligence.” > ■ • ■ ; • Mr Lydiard believes, that most New Zealanders are in favour of the tour “I am sure that it will be

very difficult to get a seat at the games,” he said. He wc 'ld also like to open athletic ties with South . irica. “The more sporting ties we have, the more possibilities we have to influence them.” he said. “I cannot see how we can influence them if we isolate them and have no sporting conuus whatsoever. * “New Zealand.'-is a sporting country and the average man in the street understands South Africa’s problems t ter than some of *he r .dicals who tfy to create problems. ; k

“I think there are some people who would like- to see chaos in South Africa rather than see peaceful evolution." :