Wallabies leave for Sth Africa

Press, 14 August 1989, Page 38

Wallabies leave for Sth Africa

NZPA-AAP Sydney Australian rugby union test players lan Williams and Mark Hartill left Sydney yesterday to join an international team for a tour of South Africa.

At least three other Australian players — understood to be Queenslanders Bill Campbell, Greg Martin and Tom Lawton — were also reported to have accepted invitations for the controversial tour. The assistant coach of the Australian team, Bob Templeton, also confirmed yesterday that he would leave for South Africa as soon as possible to coach the World XV.

The invitation side will play five games over the next three weeks, including two unofficial tests against the Springboks — to mark the centenary of the South African Rugby Board.

The wing, Williams and the prop, Hartill, who received their invitations only two days ago, were recruited as replacements for other Australian players who declined invitations to tour.

Before flying to Johannesburg via ..Singapore yesterday afternoon, both said they were opposed to South Africa’s apartheid system of racial segregation but the tour would give them an opportunity to study the situation first hand.

Before leaving Williams said “When I was in South Africa last year I visited Soweto and had the opportunity to speak to blacks about their lives and having done that it made me more anxious to go back there and learn more.” Both Williams and Hartill said rugby had been unfairly targeted by antiapartheid campaigners. “If we had a uniform policy in all ways, econo-

mic as well, then I would bow to that view,” Williams said.

Hartill agreed. “The only sports people who are penalised are amateurs,” he said.

Asked whether he was concerned the tour might jeopardise next year’s Commonwealth Games, Williams replied: “I cannot see why invitations to players who exercise their democratic rights would affect nations going to New Zealand.” “I can’t see the correlation between the two ... I think the government was looking to politicise the situation and generate public support. “Going to South Africa is a positive step in voicing opposition to apartheid and mixing with other sportsmen may help change the system.” Speaking from his Brisbane home yesterday, Mr Templeton said he would leave for South Africa within a few days. He confirmed that “five or six” Australian players

would join the international side, but he declined to identify them, explaining that they had received personal invitations and he did not want to betray their confidence.

Mr Templeton stressed he was going as an individual and not as a representative of Australian rugby.

He said the tour had been officially sanctioned by the International Rugby Board and was therefore not a rebel tour.

“I’m going solely as an individual who has received a personal invitation,” he said.

“In no way do I want to be seen to be condoning the apartheid system in South Africa but this is not a rebel tour, it’s been sanctioned by the 1.R.8.

“Australia has abided by 1.R.8. rules in deciding to pass on the invitation to myself and the players. “I’m looking forward to the tour and it will give me the chance to have a good look at South African rugby. “I’ve only seen the South Africans play once — in 1984 when I went there on the way to England for business.

"I was very impressed then and I expect us to meet some tough opposition.”

The five-match tour starts in Durban on Saturday.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gareth Evans, said there could be serious implications for next year’s Commonwealth Games. “I am not sure of the precise circumstances, whether it’s a (Australian) Rugby Board thing or a

rebel tour ... but nonetheless if it has happened, (this) runs the risk of Australia once again being tarred with the brush of sanctions busting,” Senator Evans told Network Nine’s Sunday programme.

• A group of British rugby players is expected to leave London today to take part in a rebel tour of South Africa.

The British contingent, made up largely of English and Welshmen, according to "The Sunday Times” and “Sunday Telegraph,” will join seven Frenchmen, who have already indicated their willingness to join the fivematch tour, and several Australians.

The identity of the British members of the party has not been revealed.

The French players include the backs, Philippe Sella, Denis Charvet, Franck Mesnel and the captain, Pierre Berbizier, and the forwards, Laurent Rodriguez, Marc Cecillon and Jean-Pierre Garuet. The former British Lions captain, Willie-John Mcßride, will manage the tour, and will be assisted by a former French back, Roland Bertranne. The “Sunday Telegraph” said at least 25 players had agreed to the tour. It also claimed the Australian captain, Nick Farr-Jones, was on the point of changing his mind and going to South Africa.

It quoted the S.A.R.B. spokesman, Professor Fritz Eloff, as saying progress towards the tour had been “encouraging.”

Professor Eloff is also chairman of the International Rugby Board.