IRA sent letter of ‘ advice’ to touring ABs

A new book has revealed the All Blacks were threatened by the IRA during a tour to Ireland in 1973.

The book claims a letter of “advice” was supposedly sent by Sinn Fein to one of the All Blacks players, five- eighths Bob Burgess, during the tour of Great Britain and France.

The letter, “signed” by Official IRA volunteers Tony Heffernan and Mairin de Burca, has been reproduced in the book, Behind the Silver Fern, written by Sky rugby commentator Tony Johnson and veteran sportswriter Lin McConnell. It is due to be released in New Zealand on Wednesday.

It stated that while the All Blacks players had nothing to fear from their organisation who, at the time, had adopted a non- violent policy, they could not say the same about the more militant provisional IRA.

The letter reads: “On behalf of the IRA, we would like to give you a word of explanation and some advice.

“We will take steps to try and ensure your safety, as we do not trust the Provos ( our Black September group).”

The letter added that it was unlikely that any of the All Blacks team would be treated as hostile visitors, although “they play a foreign game and have close Ulster associations“.

“No such immunity can be extended to any British team,” it con- tinues. “So we can assure you that it was with good reason that the Scots and Welsh teams did not come here.

“By way of advice, we suggest that you should refrain from talking about politics. You should also refrain from making any comment on communication. If you do, apart from other measures, we will follow our usual practice of denying all knowledge or responsibility.”

Burgess passed the letter on to the publishers of the book. It i s not known why the letter was sent to Burgess, as opposed to directly to New Zealand Rugby. But Burgess was seen as one the more academic players in the 1973 squad and was also known to have strong views.

The All Blacks tour occurred during the height of the “Troubles” between Catholic and Protestant communities in Ulster.

Burgess told the book’s authors he received the letter after the All Blacks had played in Belfast against Ulster on November 18, ahead of the planned test against Ireland in Dublin on January 20.

During the test, drawn 10- all in Dublin, there was an explosion downtown which Burgess said was audible at the ground.

“I don’t think it registered with any of the All Blacks but it certainly did with the Irish team and I think it affected their playing somewhat. It could have rattled them.”