Dalton abused, jostled

Press, 9 June 1986, Page 1

Dalton abused, jostled

PA Auckland The Cavaliers’ captain, Andy Dalton, was jostled by jeering anti-apartheid protesters on his return from South Africa last evening. Dalton arrived at Auckland Airport from Sydney with his wife and two children but without fellow members of the rebel Cavalier rugby team which he led on its recent tour. Mrs Philippa Dalton cleared customs with her children a few minutes ahead of her husband and walked unhindered from the terminal. Dalton, however, was besieged by placardcarrying protesters as soon as he emerged from the customs hall about 7.20 p.m. The police rushed to Dalton’s aid as he struggled to push a baggage trolley through a small group of protesters who blocked his path from the terminaL About 20 demonstrators encircled Dalton, pushing and shouldering him and shouting “racist” and “scum.” The police cleared a path, but the protesters continued to shove and shoulder Dalton through the car-park to a waiting car. Asked by a reporter if he had any comment on the South African tour, Dalton said: “It’s a hell of a time to conduct an interview.” Shouting and abuse continued as Dalton loaded his luggage into his car. He struggled into the front passenger seat of the car which headed for the car-park exit with protesters in pursuit As the driver paid the car-park fee at the exit toll booth, protesters continued shouts of abuse. The protest was organised by Hart. The Canterbury flanker, Jock Hobbs, captain of the All Blacks in place of Dalton on tours to Fiji and Argentina, arrived in Wellington last evening to a far more subdued welcome. Hobbs, who was greeted by his parents and family, adhered to a team policy to refuse comment on most issues and to allow Dalton to act as its spokesman. He said reports that the players had refused to sign declarations stating how much they had earned on tour were untrue. He also refused to consider what action might be taken by the Rugby Union against players involved in the tour.

The union’s council meets in Wellington today to consider disciplinary action against the Cavaliers’ coach, Colin Meads, a national selector. Mr Meads will appear before the 19-man council to put his case. The chairman of the union, Mr Russ Thomas, said the players’ refusal to sign declarations of income would probably be on the meeting’s agenda though the council was unlikely to formally consider action against the players.

Hobbs refused to confirm or deny the players had received more for touring than a small daily allowance. The full-back, Kieran Crowley, who also arrived back yesterday, said he was not getting paid. “All I received was the daily allowance. I don’t know where all the stories about big payments come from. I’ve heard nothing.”