IRB rule against Boks-Pacific Warriors Test
April 19, 2002

The International Rugby Board (IRB) have refused to sanction the proposed July 6 Test between the Springboks and the South Pacific Barbarians.

The IRB decided on Thursday night that it would not sanction the match, even though there had been agreement between the Pacific Alliance - comprising Fiji, Tonga and Samoa - SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd and the Blue Bull Rugby Union who would hosrt the game at Loftus Versfeld.

While the IRB have officially not given any reasons as they want to discuss the matter with the three pacific nations first, a source in the organisation said on Thursday night there was unhappiness that the Pacific Alliance had not asked permission for such a team to be formed.

However, a glimmer of hope still rests on the fact that the IRB still have the Springboks facing Samoa on that date and provided the two nations can sort out this impasse, the original Test match could well still take place in Pretoria.

"The game is off," a disappointed SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd managing director Rian Oberholzer said from Dublin on Thursday night. "But we hope that we can talk to Samoa and, perhaps, we can bring them to South Africa to play the Test in Pretoria."

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