Rugby men to visit S. Africa

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 6

Rugby men to visit S. Africa

PA Wellington Six of New Zealand’s senior rugby administrators would go to South Africa next month, the chairman of the Rugby Union. Mr C. A. Blazey. said last evening. He said that he would be going to South Africa on his way to the International Rugby Board meeting in London. “Over about four days. I will have close contact with South African Rugby Board members," he said.

The other five, Messrs Ray Harper, Pat Gill, Peter Wild, Russ Thomas, and Pat Beaumont, would go for a few more days, Mr Blazey said. “If a lot of people such as ourselves are going to make important decisions on rugby, I feel it is necessary that we maintain contact and

discuss rugby matters." he said.

“To make decisions we must be reliably informed." Last year's Springbok tour would be among subjects discussed in South Africa, Mr Blazey said. He said that he was past the stage of worrying what some people in New Zealand might think about the visit. Mr Blazey said also that there was an estimated surplus on the 1981 season of $190,000. including an excess of $136,800 on the Springbok tour.

The Springbok profit was much lower than that on the shorter Scottish tour, which was $165,600. “There is no question that the figures on the South African tour are down on what we would normally expect on such a tour,” he said.