S.A. players to turn pro?

Press, 20 October 1983, Page 44

S.A. players to turn pro?

NZPA-Reuter Cape Town

Leading South African rugby players have the understanding of the country’s rugby board president, Dr Danie Craven, in their plans to turn professional next year. Such a move could come about if England cancels its proposed May, 1984, tour of South Africa, the British Sunday newspaper the “Observer” revealed last weekend.

Dr Craven said South Africans wanted to play rugby at the highest level and they could look to means other than amateurism to achieve their ambitions.

However, Dr Craven said he would not, be able to justify such a move and would refuse to run any professional league, even if the move was brought about by further isolation of the South African Rugby Board. Dr Craven admits there is a strong possibility that England, despite the wishes of the new English Rugby

Union president, Ron Jacobs, who wants to maintain links with South Africa, will call off its tour next year.

And he also accepts it is possible that the best South African players, fed up with the lack of high class competition, will look to turn professional. In the “Observer” article, Dr Craven said that the advent of professionalism in South Africa would lead to his resignation as a confirmed “amateur.” Most of the current Springboks and those likely to be selected are said virtually to have decided they want to be paid for playing. “They have seen what the cricketers are getting and they are tired of playing for nothing in front of 60,000 crowds,” one source told the “Observer.” The movement is said to be strongest in Western Province, holder of the Currie Cup, and Northern Transvaal, the losing finalist.