Rugby tour

Press, 19 April 1985, Page 10

Rugby tour

Sir,—At school the teachers tried to persuade me to play rugby because it would “help develop leadership” in me. If the sort of leadership being shown by the Rugby Union is any indication of what the teachers were intending, I am proud to have been incredibly reluctant to play the game.— Yours, etc., MICHAEL DE HAMEL. April 16, 1985. Sir,—A democratic decision has been made by the Rugby Union, so why can the radical anti-establish-ment sector not accept that decision? I also object to black Africans appearing on television as guests in our country and dictating what we should or should not be doing. Even Mr Lange has found that he can not dictate. Sport breaks down barriers — politics does not. Hart, like the New Zealand Government, has been brainwashed by the black nations. I suggest they all leave New Zealand in peace and take up residence in Africa, where blacks kill blacks. The reality of the matter is that apartheid works. I certainly do not wish to align myself with Mr Lange’s or Hart’s followers in standing with black African dictatorships.—Yours, etc., GARY PRIEST. April 18, 1985.

Sir,—Suggesting in your leading article that the Rugby Union’s stance on the invitation to have the All Blacks tour South Africa could have been “We know that we could go; but we shall not,” was most laudable. It would have shown that the Rugby Union was able to make a mature decision. By saying in effect, “We can go, and we shall go,” the Rugby Union reminds me of a spoilt little boy, who insists on having his way in the supermarket, by stamping his feet and acutely

embarrassing his parents. Because the Rugby Union has decided to go ahead with the tour, we are reminded afresh how immature and selfish we, as a nation, still are — Yours, etc., CLARE HARDY. April 18, 1985. Sir,—Mr Pat Hunt said, so very earnestly, on television that he believed in democracy. Does he believe in democracy for other people? The ordinary people of the world get few opportunities to help mankind in the wider sense, and an opportunity has been lost by men who enjoy playing rugby football. They could, by being unselfish, have helped to bring democracy a little closer for the people of South Africa.—Yours, etc., D. R. M. BEARDSLEY. April 17, 1985. Sir,—The decision of the Rugby Union to accept the invitation from its South African counterpart to send a team on tour this year, I consider callous and totally unacceptable. A refusal might be regarded by rugby fanatics as little more than token opposition to the evil of apartheid, but if that token contributed a mere iota towards reducing that evil, the sacrifice would be infinitely worth while. I doubt there is anything further to be gained in continued attempts to persuade the old men of the Rugby Union of the wider implications of their decision. They obviously regard their right to play games, as and where they choose, as sacrosanct and having precedence over all others’ rights, particularly those who they apparently regard as “lesser men.” I appeal to the rugby players themselves to have compassion and responsibility where their governors have failed.— Yours, etc., DR J. LAPPAGE. April 18, 1985.

Sir,—l do not propose to'enter into a slanging match with Susan Taylor. For her information, however, I claim little personal knowledge of South Africa; neither do I sit in judgment on that country, and I think it is a great pity that some other people whose personal knowledge of South Africa is no greater than mine do not exercise similar restraint. As to the dubious origins of much of Hart’s propaganda, I would have thought that obvious to anyone; several of its exponents have been strutting round New Zealand in recent weeks, spewing out racial hatred and threatening bloodshed. Susan Taylor does not simply “provide factual information to help people make up their minds.” She tries to thrust that “information” down their throats, as she showed in her letter of March 29. - Yours, etc., ANNE THOMSON. April 15, 1985.

Sir, — The cry continues: “Sport and politics should not be mixed.” Politics intrude, by law, into sport in South Africa. We recall when New Zealand representatives, Maoris, were excluded by law from African matches. Protesters against this are told not to interfere on the grounds that “politics should not mix with sport.” Having to think both ways is bothersome — it spoils pleasure. — Yours, etc., H. HART. April 15, 1985.