Mr Blazey accepts Meads’ assurance

Press, 2 May 1986, Page 32

Mr Blazey accepts Meads’ assurance

NZPA staff correspondent, Steve McMorran Wellington The chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr Ces Blazey, accepts Colin Meads’ assurance he has not seen a telex from the union describing the Cavaliers tour of South Africa as unacceptable. Mr Blazey said telexes had been sent to the South African Rugby

Board and to Mr Meads, coach of the rebel side, outlining the rugby union’s objections to the tour. Though the messages have been released to the media and published, Mr Meads maintains the telex has not reached him. "I know Colin well enough to know that if that is what he says, he means it,” Mr Blazey said. “I don’t know why he hasn’t received the

message. The telex to Mr Meads was sent at the same time as the telex to the South African Board. Our checks show both messages were received but the telex to Colin has evidently not been passed on. “Nevertheless, the text has been given to the media and widely discussed and I would have thought that Colin would have a fair idea by now what the telex contains.”

Mr Blazey, who returned yesterday from a meeting of the International Rugby Board in London, said he was disappointed South Africa had chosen to ignore the board’s request to act against the tour.

“South Africa cannot be in any doubt about the strength of feeling against the tour and of the board’s desire that something be done,” he said.

“At that level, the 1.R.8.’s message was very strong indeed.” Mr Blazey would not forecast what action might be taken against the South African Board because of its refusal to support the wishes of the 1.R.8. He said the international board would continue its investigation of the tour without South African assistance if necessary. The New Zealand

union would next discuss the tour at its council meeting on May 14. Its options were limited, Mr Blazey said, because of South Africa’s refusal to support efforts against the tour. Because the meeting was the last by the existing 18-man council — a new and enlarged body will be elected at the annual meeting of the union on May 15 — outgoing councillors may

choose to act immediately against the tour. Mr Blazey had said a full investigation of the tour would be made but councillors may now decide to implement some action immediately. Mr Blazey also firmly rejected a claim this week from the South African board chairman, Dr Danie Craven, that while in London he had tried to set up a meeting between New Zealand

and South African officials but that this had been vetoed by Mr Blazey. “I don’t know what he means by that frankly,” Mr Blazey said. “I don’t understand what he’s talking about.” Mr Blazey said he had had no response from Dr Craven from the time he had been told that the unauthorised tour was unacceptable.