IN BRIEF : Apartheid Foes Assail British OK of Rugby Players’ S. African Tour

Anti-apartheid activists condemned England’s decision today to allow its rugby players to tour South Africa this summer and warned of protests against British sports events.

The English Rugby Union announced that any invitations received for South African rugby centennial celebrations will be passed on to players but said it will discourage the players from going.

The decision, which follows similar moves in the last two weeks by rugby officials in Scotland and Wales, was denounced as “very irresponsible” by a leading anti-apartheid body.

“This has magnified the problem. We will have to consider protest action,” said Sam Ramsamy, chairman of the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee. “We have to ensure that Britain loses influence in international sport.”

Dudley Wood, secretary of the English Rugby Union, said at a news conference that any invitations received for the South African tour will be passed on to the players.

Last summer, the Rugby Union refused to pass on invitations for English players to participate in a match in South Africa.

Ramsamy warned last week that an English decision to pass on the South African invitations could lead to international repercussions. Such a move, he said, could harm Manchester’s hopes of attracting the 1996 Summer Olympics and could lead to some African nations boycotting the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand.