Rugby Union told to punish ‘rebel’ players

Press, 16 April 1986, Page 3

Rugby Union told to punish ‘rebel’ players

By

PATRICIA HERBERT

In Wellington The Government will lean on the Rugby Union Council to discipline the "rebel” players touring South Africa.

This was indicated yesterday by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Moore, after a meeting at Parliament with the chairman of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, Mr Roy Dutton, and a Rugby Union councillor, Mr J. J. Stewart. Mr Dutton said he had discussed the issue with other Commonwealth members and that the response was that if the team was punished, “the whole problem would fade away.”

New Zealand would be singled out, only if no disciplinary action was taken. He quoted the

cases of Australia, England, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies all of which imposed bans in similar circumstances.

In effect, Mr Dutton told Mr Moore that New Zealand’s participation at Edinburgh this year and its chances of being host of the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland would be preserved if reprisals were taken against the "rebels.” Mr Moore said the message had been conveyed to Mr Stewart and that he would in turn convey it to the council. Mr Stewart indicated that the players could expect to be penalised. He said it was quite clear from statements by the council’s chairman, Mr Ces Blazey, in London, that the tour had not been officially approved and

that the team had contravened the union’s regulations and procedures. He could not, however, guarantee that action would be taken although union precedent, established against the 19071908 All Golds, would dictate that the rebels be suspended for life.

The next council meeting is set down for May 14 in Wellington and, unless an earlier date is arranged, it is then that evidence will be considered and decisions made. Mr Moore said the Government would do what it could to “assist” the Rugby Union. It was anxious that the game and other sports people were not penalised as a result of the “rebel” tour. For this reason, and to save the Auckland Games, he urged the council to examine "tightly” its rules

with regard to the players and to appreciate the “seriousness” of what Mr Dutton had said. He indicated, however, that the Government would probably not withdraw its funding of rugby should it be dissatisfied with the council’s decision, saying that would be punishing the wrong people. Why, he asked, should the people who washed “footy” jerseys at club level be penalised?

Mr Stewart said he thought the players “quite thoughtless” in acting as they were because of the effects the tour might have on the game, on sponsorship at all levels, and on the availability of coaches and referees. “They might withdraw their services from rugby,” he said. “That is our anxiety.”