Rugby Union: SA pledge on violence

THE South African team arrived in Perth, Australia, yesterday after an absence of 22 years, pledging a drug and violence-free tour.

'Such is our commitment to cleaning up the game, we addressed every player firmly and frankly in respect to upholding the rules and regulations on this tour,' the South African Rugby Football Union executive president, Ebrahim Patel, said.

The SARFU has brought its drug regulations into line with the International Rugby Board and was also taking a hard line against rough play after recent violent incidents involving South African players. They play their first tour match tomorrow against Western Australia before the first of three Tests in Sydney on 31 July.

The Australian captain, Michael Lynagh, has been admitted to hospital with an infected lymph node in his stomach and will miss Saturday's Bledisloe Cup game against New Zealand in Dunedin.

AUSTRALIA (v New Zealand, Bledisloe Cup, 17 July): T Kelaher; P Carozza, J Little, T Horan, D Campese; P Howard, N Farr-Jones; T Gavin, D Wilson, T Coker, R McCall, G Morgan, E McKenzie, P Kearns, T Daly. Reserves: M Roebuck, A Herbert, B Johnstone, I Tabua, D Crowley, D Nucifora.