Fitzgerald flies to S.A.

Press, 22 August 1989, Page 40

Fitzgerald flies to S.A.

NZPA-AAP Brisbane Australia’s No. 1 international rugby referee, Kerry Fitzgerald, was on his way to South Africa yesterday to officiate in the two major games of the five-match World XV tour. Mr Fitzgerald will handle the World XVSpringboks match in Cape Town on Saturday and the second Springboks match on September 2 in Johannesburg, the two top matches in the South African Rugby Board (5.A.R.8.) centenary celebrations. “It’s just a rugby trip as far as I’m concerned, and that’s it,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

"Referees are going all around the world these days,” said Mr Fitzgerald, who in the past has refereed European five nations games and was in charge of the World Cup final in New Zealand in 1987. Mr Fitzgerald said International Rugby Board rules provided for neutral referees to handle full international matches and it was Australia’s turn this time. “The allocation was made to Australia under the rota system and I was the referee selected on that basis.” Six Australian players are in the World XV squad — Bill Campbell,

Mark Hartill, Tom Lawton, Greg Martin, Rod McCall and lan Williams. The World XV coach is another Australian, Bob Templeton. The tour has been organised in the face of rising pressure from antiapartheid lobbyists who condemn sporting links with South Africa. The Australian Government has also criticised the Australians for becoming involved. However, the Australians in the squad have been backed by the Australian Rugby Football Union, which has officially sanctioned their acceptance of invitations from the S.A.R.B.

9 Ten Welsh rugby I players flew to Johannesburg from London’s i Heathrow Airport yesteri day to join the international squad touring the i republic. The players boarded the South African Airways i Boeing 747 in small ; groups and refused to i comment as they left. According to Cobus Kotze, • the S.A.R.B. marketing ; director who saw the players off, the 10 were Paul Thorbum, the full- • back and Welsh captain, Robert Norster, David I Pickering, Paul Turner, Mike Hall, Phil Davies, Mark Ring, Phil John, s Anthony Clement and Robert Jones. ■