Sport in Short: Rugby Union

ULI SCHMIDT, of South Africa, one of the world's leading hookers, has said politics played a part in his decision to pull out of the forthcoming tour of England and France. 'There is no more pride for me in wearing the Springbok jersey and having to tour countries where I know I'm not welcome,' he said. 'I have no desire to play in England. When I played for the World XV recently, Jeremy Guscott refused to speak to us because we were South Africans.'