Aust. bans matches with rebels

Press, 19 April 1986, Page 3

Aust. bans matches with rebels

Washington

Australia would not play against any All Black rugby team which included members of the “rebel” team now in South Africa, said the Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, yesterday.

Mr Hawke said he shared the Prime Minister, Mr Lange’s, view that the action of the “rebel” players was to be totally regretted. It could be questioned whether by the “subterfuge” the players used they had broken the letter as well as the spirit of the law which was brought down by the Court in New Zealand that prevented the official All Black tour, Mr Hawke said.

“Surely the evidence which has accumulated since that time of what is happening in South Africa should have led them to the conclusion that it was improper to be giving aid and comfort to a regime under which increasing numbers of people are being killed,” he said. “Under the provisions of the Gleneagles agreement, the situation would be that we would not be within Australia playing against people who are in that category,” he said. In Wellington, the executive of the Auckland Rugby Union, Mr Lew Pryme, said official action to warn the “rebels” of the danger to their careers might be too late. The team is due to play its first match, against the Junior Springboks, at Johannesburg on Wednesday. “They must be told before then, and in quite strong terms, of the possible consequences of playing in South Africa without a clearance from the New Zealand union,” Mr Pryme said.

“There is evidence that some of the less experienced players have been given the impression that they have nothing to fear.

“In fairness to them, they should be given the facts so that they can make an informed decision. Then later if they face penalties they cannot say they did not know what they were doing,” Mr Pryme said. Ten unions, including Auckland, have called on the New Zealand Rugby Union to act to stop the tour.