SARFU: Bok tour still on
October 8, 2001

Outgoing South African Rugby Football Association (Sarfu) chief executive Rian Oberholzer said on Monday that the Springboks' end-of-year tour to Europe was definitely still on, despite the American war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

Oberholzer (pictured) said that Sarfu had not yet discussed the cancellation of the tour, but admitted the issue would be on their next agenda when the Executive Committee met in November.

"At the moment we have yet to take a position, but the issue is pencilled in for our November meeting," he said. "If matters become urgent, we will call an extraordinary meeting."

Sarfu spokesman Anthony MacKaizer re-iterated Oberholzer's sentiments, saying: "We will not be drawn into making any hasty decisions and treat it on a 'as and when' situation."

The Springboks are scheduled to play France in Paris November 10, Italy in Genoa on November 17, England in London a week later and the United States Eagles in Houston Texas on December 1.

The Australian Rugby Union said on Monday that players fearing for their safety would not be forced to go on their European tour starting in October.

ARU head John O'Neill said that the tour was still on, but that players were free to pull out. "We wouldn't be imposing on the players an atmosphere that wasn't good for them and clearly wasn't good for Australian rugby," he said.

"The tour is still on, obviously for some time since the 11th of September we have been in contact with the federal government regularly, at the prime minister's level as well as the department of foreign affairs," he said. - Sapa

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