Craven gives support

Press, 10 February 1986, Page 23

Craven gives support

NZPA-AFP Johannesburg

The South African Rugby Board chairman, Dr Danie Craven, has given his blessing to Zimbabwean rugby players in South Africa who might get the chance to play for Zimbabwe in rugby’s first World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 1987. Other sources said the Zimbabwean Government was highly unlikely to allow its rugby players in South Africa to return for a place in Zimbabwe’s World Cup squad. Zimbabwe’s rugby world is buzzing with suggestions that several of its players who are playing for South African

rugby clubs could bolster the country’s chances in 1987. The players would probably include the Springbok internationals, lan Robertson and Chris Rogers, and club players, Alan Faber and Harry Roberts.

Robertson, who has played for the powerful South African provincial team, Northern Transvaal, as fullback and standoff, recently returned to Zimbabwe.

Chris Rogers played as hooker for the Springboks against the touring 1984 Lions, Alex Faber is a young winger who turns out for Pretoria’s presti-

gious Harlequins, and Harry Roberts is hooker for Transvaal. Dr Craven said there was nothing to stop players who still had Zimbabwean passports from turning out for Zimbabwe in the World Cup.

Zimbabwe desperately need reinforcements. They are in a strong World Cup group with France, Scotland and Rumania.

A Johannesburg sports journalist, John Fuller, was among those who predicted that returning players from South Africa would be snubbed by the Zimbabwe Government.