§ Dr. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met officials of the Rugby Football Union to discuss the Gleneagles agreement; at whose request the meeting was arranged; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneI invited the president and secretary of the Rugby Football Union to my office on 20 March to discuss the Commonwealth statement on apartheid in sport and the proposed England rugby tour of South Africa this summer. During that meeting I again advised them formally of the Government's opposition to the scheduled tour because of our support for the Commonwealth statement and of my concern for the possible repercussions of that tour for British and Commonwealth sport. I have also since that meeting written to the RFU president repeating the points I made to him, and asking him to inform the other members of the RFU committee at its meeting on 30 March.