Rugby bosses silent on suggestions of discord

Press, 16 April 1986, Page 52

Rugby bosses silent on suggestions of discord

From

ROBIN CHARTERIS

in London

South Africa’s “Mr Rugby,” Dr Danie Craven, continues to deny that either he or the South African Rugby Board know anything about the unofficial tour of South Africa by leading New Zealand players.

“I can’t believe it,” he said flatly to journalists during a break in working sessions of the international rugby football board centenary congress in the tiny village of Enstone in Oxfordshire yesterday. “All I can say, though,” he added jokingly, “is that the reports we hear (through the media) are too good to be true.”

Dr Craven, the President of the South African Rugby Board since 1956, refused to be drawn on what he called “media speculation” of the tour by almost all members of the All Blacks team selected to visit South Africa last year. That official tour was cancelled at the last moment following legal action in Auckland.

Together with two other South African delegates, Professor F. C. Eloff and Isiah Lindi, a black, Dr Craven told a South African television journalist and a newspaper reporter: “We heard here (at Enstone) last night (Sunday) for the first time about all this. I still don’t know any more than your speculation.

“We are cut off from everything here. We will have to go back and investigate these reports. “I can only reply to

facts and no-one appears to have any. This is a very precarious position we find ourselves in,” said Dr Craven. He denied there was any rift over the issue between himself and the chairman of the N.Z.R.F.U., Mr Ces Blazey, who took over last Friday as chairman of the International Rugby Board. “We are the best of friends,” he said. “We are good friends with Mr Blazey and with all New Zealanders, except your Prime Minister.” When first asked by the waiting journalists to make himself available for comment, however, Dr Craven declined to appear. However, 30 minutes after Mr Blazey had given a brief press conference, Dr Craven made an unscheduled appearance and declared himself happy to talk.

The situation was reversed shortly afterwards when, after first agreeing to be photographed with Dr Craven, Mr Blazey five minutes later refused, saying: “I have my own very good reasons.” Neither would admit to discord between them, but others among the 130 delegates at the congress

hinted at strong personal disagreement having been fuelled by the rebel tour and the belief, allegedly held by Mr Blazey and many others, of the South African board’s involvement, at least tacitly. Dr Craven suggested there could be confusion over the participation by seven New Zealanders in the Transvaal Rugby Union’s centenary celebrations, and by a further eight who are now in Britain for 1.R.8. centenary matches this week, along with other international players.

The South African board and the New Zealand board had sanctioned the New Zealanders playing in Transvaal, Dr Craven said. Strict conditions had been laid down, including no payment to the players and the retention of their amateur status. The South African board had only given permission to Transvaal to invite players for a world series of matches. In New Zealand’s case, he believed seven players had been invited.

Dr Craven said that if the Transvaal union had exceeded its authority and helped arrange the reported tour by a full team of New Zealand players, “we’ll take steps against

Transvaal. “But I can’t believe it,” he added, repeating that neither he nor the South African board knew anything about the tour. What the 1.R.8. might feel about the proposed tour would not be discussed at the Oxfordshire congress, Dr Craven said. The board is scheduled to meet in London next week “and we’ll cross that bridge when we come tc it.”

Charged later by journalists with the accusation by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Lange, that he was “lying” and had known all about the tour for some time, Dr Craven gave a firm denial.

“Your Mr Lange is the cause of all this because he stopped the proper tour,” he said. “Our relationships with New Zealand have never been better. We have always been friends and will stay so until our dying day.” Mr Blazey, who through the congress working sessions all day was seated on the stage just a metre from Dr Craven, was not quite as warm in his answer to questions about relationships with South Africa. While stating he had no firm information that the

unofficial tour was proceeding, Mr Blazey said he had conveyed to Dr Craven that if the reports were confirmed, “they are not acceptable to New Zealand.”

It was too early, he said, to talk of the issue leading to disagreement with South Africa.

“You can have major disagreements about matters over which you have to speak sharply, but still talk to people as friends," he commented, hinting at words having already been spoken between the two meh.

Composed and dignified with journalists, Mr Blazey was nevertheless obviously annoyed over the rebel tour issue. He denied Television New Zealand reports that he had been "horrified” to hear of the tour, saying he had used no such word.

His official position was that neither he nor the N.Z.R.F.U. had had any advice from any source other than the media about the suggested tour. Mr Blazey pointed out there was no way any unofficial tourists could call themselves All Blacks, nor could they wear the All Black jersey.

Asked what could be the result of New Zealanders playing overseas without N.Z.R.F.U. sanction, Mr Blazey said the matter was a departure from accepted practice and had never occurred before. He would not comment on possible action that could be taken against such players or against the man alleged to be the manager, the All Black selector, Mr Colin Meads, or the named coach, Mr lan Kirkpatrick.

“This is a new situation and one quite frankly unacceptable to the N.Z.R.F.U. What will happen to the people involved — if indeed they are — can only be decided by our (N.Z.R.F.U.) council later.”

Mr Blazey refused comment on possible action that could be taken against the South African Rugby Board if it was shown to know about and approve the tour. That would be a matter for the 1.R.8. to consider, he said. The present congress involved working sessions on the administration of the game, and the tour issue would not be discussed officially, although he was sure it would be in informal sessions, said Mr Blazey.