We’ll pull out—British teams

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 40

We’ll pull out —British teams

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney

England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland arc set to pull out of the inaugural rugby world cup in 1987 if South Africa is not invited, a report here said yesterday. Their withdrawal would rob the series of five of the leading rugby nations, dealing a body blow to the cup concept which is expected to cost around SNZ4.II million to stage in Australia and New Zealand.

Quoting reliable sources in the South African Rugby Board, “The Australian” newspaper said the Home Unions were prepared to pull out of the cup if South Africa was snubbed, but did not elaborate on what would happen if an invitation was issued but South Africa excluded because players could not get visas. The New South Wales Sports Minister, Mr Michael Cleary, revealed in Wellington on Monday that South

Africa would not be getting one of the 16 world cup invitations to be issued by the International Rugby Board later this month. However the president of the South African Rugby Board, Dr Danie Craven, was quoted by “The Australian” as saying his board would not accept being excluded from the cup, and he did not think the other sides would either. Yesterday Dr Craven also condemned what he called

anti-South African movements as the Springbok trials continued for the controversial New Zealand tour starting here this month. “The continual onslaughts we are faced with can be handled,” he told reporters in Witbank, east of Johannesburg, at the opening of a “rugby week.” “And what is more, the reason for the sudden increase in the onslaughts is the realisation that things

are changing in South Africa, and the anti-South Africa movements are now fearing for their jobs, their travelling allowances and the fancy hotels they stay in around the world.” Dr Craven said he was looking forward to the New Zealand tour, although he said he also wanted South Africans to tour overseas, which they have not done since they went to New Zealand in 1981.