The Irish government is “outraged” after the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) took part in a rugby event in apartheid South Africa, a state newspaper has revealed.
Details of correspondence and government letters relating to the 1989 rugby tour controversy have been released by the National Archives as part of the 30-year rule.
The IRFU was widely criticized at the time because the committee allowed international directors to attend sporting events despite the government's objections.
The event was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the South African Rugby Board (SARB) in 1989.
At the time, apartheid South Africa was under total boycott by many international sports organizations.
Among those in attendance was Irish rugby veteran Willie John McBride. He was the manager of the visiting team and was under political pressure not to take part in the tour.
The former Ireland captain was asked about his opponents by the Sunday Independent.
He is reported to have said: We have the blessing of Rugby Union. ”
Referring to the attacks against him by the anti-apartheid movement, he said: they are political. I believe in people communicating through sports, and I believe that's the way it should be.
“I believe in trying to break down barriers.”
After the tour, Mr McBride said rugby players should be allowed to play “whoever they want without politics ruining everything”.
However, in a press statement issued a few weeks after the tour, IRFU general secretary GP Moss said he was concerned that recognition of the event had “caused reaction and controversy”.
“This occasion has been approved by the International Rugby Football Board and it has been agreed by the IRFU committee that members of the International Board will be present,” the statement added.
He further stated that, in retrospect, he regrets that decision.
The report states that as long as the remainder of South Africa's apartheid laws remain in place, no Irish team at any level, nor any other Irish team, will be allowed to play in South Africa, nor will any Irish team play in Ireland. I was not invited to do so.
Foreign Affairs Minister Gerard Collins said in a statement that he was satisfied that the IRFU regretted the decision to take part in South Africa's centenary celebrations.
He said it was an “unjust decision that has caused unnecessary national controversy” in both Ireland and South Africa.
In a letter to Sean Farrell, first secretary of the embassy in London, Foreign Office official Philomena Murnaghan revealed that the Irish government was furious at the IRFU attendance.
She said the decision was made in “complete disregard” of government policy on sporting contact with South Africa.
