English players will be allowed to participate...

English players will be allowed to participate in South African rugby centennial celebrations in August but will be discouraged from going, rugby officials said.

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.”