Welsh rugby tour cancelled?

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 1

Welsh rugby tour cancelled?

NZPA London The Welsh Rugby Union has called off its proposed tour of South Africa next year, according to the “Observer” newspaper. . The decision, which the newspaper said would be announced today, eases fears of a boycott of next year’s Commonwealth Games at Brisbane by black nations had the tour gone ahead. The union’s executive committee met on December 2 to decide whether the tour should go ahead in spite of opposition from the British Government and anti-apart-heid organisations. The union said later that the decision would not be announced until the South African rugby authorities had been informed. The black nations of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean have threatened a Games boycott if New Zealand competes, because of

the recent South African rugby tour there. The “Observer”’ which gave no source for its report, said that the Welsh authorities had been deeply divided over the tour. Fears of repercussions at home and the danger of wrecking the Commonwealth Games were the two main factors which had finally influenced them, the newspaper said. But another apartheid row seemed imminent said the “Observer," after the “secret" arrival in Johannesburg on Saturday of a cricket team representing England’s Oxford and Cambridge universities. The team would play a series of matches starting with a “universities week” tournament in Cape Town, beginning today. The chairman of the Lon-don-based South African Non-racial Olympic Committee. Mr Sam Ramsamy, wel-

corned the reported cancellation of the Welsh rugby tour, but said that the cricket visit was “a real blow. “If we had known about the tour before we could have stopped it, because of our strength in the universities,” he said. “These young men above all should be aware of the truth about South Africa. They think they are above the moral code.” The "Observer” quoted the prb-Government South African newspaper, the “Citizen," as saying the side was being managed by Mr Brian Taylor,. chairman of the Essex County Cricket Committee. Both this year’s university captains, Derek Pringle, of Essex, and Richard Ellis, of Middlesex, are in the side, which travelled under an assumed name to prevent discovery. According to Peter van der Merwe. President of the South African Universities’ Cricket Asociation, the secrecy was necessary “for fear of political repercussions." The universities cricket week will involve 10 teams from the established white universities. No black, Indian, or African universities will take part, although black students holding special Government-issued permits to attend white universities could be in the sides. Mr Jack Davies, president of the Cambridge University Cricket Club, said that the tour was private and as such did not need the blessing of the cricket authorities..