Russian rugby keen on N.Z. contacts

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 23

Russian rugby keen on N.Z. contacts

NZPA Moscow Russian rugby is keen to establish contacts with New Zealand but it tempers that wish with concern about South African links. Peter Atco, rugby State coach of the Sporting Committee of the U.S.S.R., raised the Cavaliers tour of South Africa with NZPA when he was discussing the prospect of his nation taking part in

future World Cups. Atco, the senior professional coach organising the

State-run and impressive drive to improve the sport throughout the U.S.S.R., volunteered the comment that his country followed United Nations declarations against matches with the apartheid State. “We don’t want ties with the sporting organisations of South Africa,” he said. Atco said he did not think it was a "plus” for New Zealand that its players went on the Cavaliers tour thisyear. “That won’t do any favours for the New Zealanders.” He said the Soviet Rugby Federation would “consider all these problems” if there’ was an invitation to the World Cup, which holds its inaugural tournament in. May and June next year in New Zealand and Australia.

“The invitation would be considered. Certainly the Soviet federation is interested in taking part in such a reputable event.” In fact there was widespread disappointment in the Soviet Union in 1986 when it missed out on an invitation to the 16-team 1987 tournament. Judging by the coaching system in place in the U.S.S.R. (between 200 and 250 professional coaches are spurring the sport on through junior schools), the Soviets could soar ahead as a force in world rugby. Last year the national team finished second to France in the European FIRA championship, ahead of Italy, Rumania and a host of other countries. - The. national side beat France two years ago,’ de-

feated Rumania last year and on a tour of Zimbabwe won one test and lost the other, Atco said. • Like top Moscow coach Edgar Taturyan, he hopes to see games between Soviet and New Zealand.teams. The state coach said he wanted a Kiwi team to visit the U.S.S.R. for an international competition sponsored by a Soviet newspaper called Socialist Industry. Taturyan, coach of the leading club Slava, would welcome an invitation from New Zealand for his team to tour. ■ Taturyan said he was disappointed the Soviet Union was not in the first World Cup, “but the new. leadership of the U.S.S.R. Rugby Federation has decided to find out whether it is possible to play in future events.”