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.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860502.2.157
Bibliographic details
Press, 2 May 1986, Page 32
Word Count
488Mr Blazey accepts Meads’ assurance Press, 2 May 1986, Page 32
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.