S.A. out of rugby ‘circus’

Press, 28 May 1983, Page 1

S.A. out of rugby ‘circus’

NZPA Sydney South Africa is totally excluded from the proposed professional world rugby “circus,” the venture’s front man, Mr David Lord, said yesterday. His denial of any South African connection came only hours after he publicly admitted his involvement in the “circus” project that threatens to undermine the rugby establishment. He refused to confirm reports that more than 200 players from Australia, New Zealand, France and Britain have committed themselves to play in the “circus.”

Two days ago a London report detailed a, payment structure of between about $30,000 and $44,090 per player per tournament, with win bonuses.

The report outlined seven tournaments played in the northern and southern hemispheres over two seasons.

Mr Lord said he had finally declared his hand, after repeated denials, to discredit rumours of South African involvement.

“I would much prefer for it to have gone on the way it was, but there was a growing worry among people associated with it that even the South African team would play and South African money was involved,” he said. Asked to confirm speculation that-the “circus” could be launched as soon as October, he said: “A lot depends on a whole lot of factors, not the least of these would be the International Rugby Board’s attitude towards the players. It can only go on suspicion and that never

hanged anyone.” The New Zealand Rugby Union’s chairman, Mr Ces Blazey, has been approached by the Australian union about calling an emergency meeting of the International Rugby Board to discuss speculation about a professional international rugby circus. He said New Zealand realised, there was a prospect of professional rugby and that many people would be sad if it did take away top players. Top New Zealand players knew what their position would be in relation to amateur rugby, if. they signed a contract to' play professionally. Their departure would not, however, be the end of rugby. If players had an ability which they could use to make money then they were entitled to make the decision as to whether to do so, said Mr Blazey. The British Lions’ manager, Mr Willie John McBride, has branded reports that team members were being recruited for professional rugby as “utter nonsense.”

He said in Palmerston North last evening that he was not aware of any player in the touring party who had signed papers saying they would take part in a professional tournament. “If any member of this party signed professional papers he would be removed from this tour and replaced. “I am aware of the reports from Sydney suggesting the recruitment of Lions players for professional rugby, and I would like to state categorically that they are utter nonsense,” said Mr Mcßride.

He said that reports in Sydney that the tour would be called off were “totally untrue.”

In London, the English hooker, Peter Wheeler, who missed selection for the Lions tour, has been invited to play in the “circus,” according to the "Sun” newspaper. Wheeler revealed that he had been approached by Mr Lord and he was now waiting to see what happened. “I haven’t agreed to anything. In fact, I hope to be playing for England again next season,” Wheeler said. Mr Lord, the Sydneybased sports commentator, who was made bankrupt in 1978, asserts that he signed a three-year contract with the Australian Rugby Union in 1976 to generate sponsors. The A.R.U. terminated the contract after only a year and Mr Lord now plans to sue the union for a substantial amount he claims it owes him.

“I have been publicly humiliated for five years while they were quite happy to go around making money on top of the money I have saved them,” he said yesterday.

“The A.R.U. were instrumental in my being humiliated by being made bankrupt. If they had paid their dues I would have been a long way in front.

“I was bankrupt for $940 and they owed me thousands. If that is the way they want to play the game it’s fine by me.”

Mr Brian Johnstone, one of two members of the A.R.U. committee that investigated Mr Lord’s claim, said the union had paid Mr Lord all he was entitled to.