The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is having problems getting safety assurances from its South African counterpart for Australian Super 12 teams playing in the republic, the ARU said yesterday.

The ARU has unsuccessfully tried to contact the SARFU for more information on their bitter racial debate with the National Sports Council.

With New South Wales on the way home, the ACT Brumbies currently in Cape Town, and Queensland due in the republic for three weeks late in the tournament, the ARU want SARFU officials to brief them on the situation.

The New South Wales side were met by a group promoting "affirmative action" on their way to Saturday's Super 12 match against the Western Stormers in Wellington, just outside Cape Town, but there was no hint of violence. Subsequently, they returned home with a petition lobbying Australia to support the movement and the NSC.