Dr Craven says N.Z. would bar his entry

Press, 12 January 1987, Page 1

Dr Craven says N.Z. would bar his entry

NZPA staff correspondent London The chairman of the International Rugby Board, Dr Danie Craven, says he will not be allowed to attend the first World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year, reports “The Times” newspaper.

Dr Craven had previously been refused visas to enter Australia and New Zealand, the newspaper said. “It would appear that they are scared of us,” he was quoted as saying. “I have not made any visa application, but I have been told indirectly that I would not be allowed into the countries.” . Dr Craven’s comments came as a surprise to the Minister of Immigration, Mr Burke. “Applications for visas do not get considered until they are made,” Mr Burke said. Dr Craven, president of the South African Rugby Board takes over the international chairmanship in rotation this year

from the former head of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr Ces Blazey. Mr Burke would not say if a visa would be granted to Dr Craven. “Until Dr Craven specifies the range of purposes for which he requires a visa, then I am not in a position to say how the application would be handled.” Labour’s policy was to exclude any sports team selected on the basis of apartheid, he said. A team could be 15 or one. “But South African citizens have visas granted for travel in New Zealand. Very few, in fact, are declined.” Asked if an application from Dr Craven would be considered, Mr Burke

said: “Of course we would consider it” He did not know what decision would be made if Dr Craven applied to attend an International Rugby Board meeting, held at the time of the • cup. “We would need to have discussions about it; it involves Foreign Affairs as well as Immigration.” Mr Burke said he "didn’t think very much” of Dr Craven’s reported decision not to bother applying for an application. "It seems extraordinary that he made a statement based on informal contacts (with the High Commission). He already knew what the Government’s policy . was, he didn’t even have, to ask.”