Concern about remarks by Springboks

Press, 23 September 1981, Page 6

Concern about remarks by Springboks

A conflict between the publicly and privately expressed views of the Springboks on the quality of the accommodation provided for them by the Linwood Rugby Club during their stay in Christchurch is causing the club concern. A letter from the Linwood club’s president, Mr George Stove, was received at last evening’s meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s management committee. Attached were newspaper cuttings quoting the. Springbok manager, Professor Johan Claassen, as saying that the Christchurch accommodation was much inferior to that provided at the other two test venues, and in one report he described it as bad. Mr Stove said that these reports had caused both him and his executive deep dismay, more especially as the club had had a letter from Professor Claassen expressing both gratitude and praise for the accommodation Linwood had provided. “It was a difficult assignment carried out in a most efficient way and please convey to every member of your club our deepest gratitude,”

the letter is said to have stated. Mr Stove said that the team’s doctor and a number of the players had described the meals provided as the best they had had up to that point in their tour. Union members who were involved in the arrangements at Linwood spoke glowingly of the work done by Linwood at such short notice. “It was a challenge that Linwood met magnificently and had it not, 40,000 people would probably have missed seeing a test match,” said Mr L. J. Russell. Even if squash courts were not the ideal place to bed down a rugby team, both the accommodation and the meals were still first-class, he said. . “Linwood did a marvellous job, no-one could deny that,” said Mr R. W. Thomas. It was decided to accede to the Linwood request that its letter be passed on to the New Zealand Rugby Union, and, in particular, to the union’s liaison officer with the Springboks, Mr R. C. Stuart, so that what was felt to be an unfair slight to the club could be rectified.