Denial of tour avoided

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 2

Denial of tour avoided

PA Wellington The president of the South African Rugby Board, Dr Danie Craven, will not deny a tour of his country will take place after the World Cup tournament.

Speaking from his Stellenbosch home yesterday morning, Dr Craven said he had heard the comments by Mr Lange that a

rebel tour by either a New Zealand team or a composite side drawn from competing World Cup countries would almost certainly stem from the international tournament, starting in Auckland on May 22.

“I have heard his views. I would like to know where he got his information from,” Dr Craven

said. “He is starting stories. That’s his story and he has to prove it.” Asked if he could give a denial yesterday — irrespective of anything which might develop in the next few months — that another rebel tour was being planned for South Africa, Dr Craven said: “I’m not denying anything. Not until I know where he got his information from. “Let him (Mr Lange) come out and tell the truth. Then I will react.” ’Asked if. he had a feeling that Mr Lange was trying to start an issue from nothing, Dr Craven said, “That is for him to say. He is in a responsible position. I would expect a man in a position like that to act more responsibly.” Dr Craven was a central figure in last year’s Cavalier tour of South Africa. When the tour began he was at an International Rugby Board meeting in Britain, but vowed to take action when he returned home. Once back in South Africa he changed his stance, endorsing the tour by the New Zealanders. He believed the Cavaliers tour had been worthwhile for South African rugby in spite of the problems it caused. “Oh yes. To us it was a wonderful experience, because it was the All' Blacks. “We wouldn’t have done it for anybody else.” Dr Craven has not applied for a visa to enter New Zealand for the World Cup tournament.