Regret That French Team's Tour Is Off

Chronicle (Levin), 6 May 1948, Page 3

Regret That French Team's Tour Is Off

Press ■ Association)

(Per

- WELLINGTON, May 5. Regret that the negotiations fpr a visit to New Zealand by a French teain this season had fallen through was expressed at the annual ineeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union today by Mr. G, A. Maddison fHawkq's Bay), who was a 'delegate to the internatibiial eonferenee. " ■ ' V ■ ' j : On the. other hand-the other delegate, Mr. ' F; E. Sutherland (Auckland), when' invited :to give . his yiews indicated that, even m France, the ex-' penses and otlier difticulties attaehing to the totir were regarded as virtually insurmountable. Lieut.-Colonel A. H. Andrews (Cauterbury), who visited France with tlie N.Z.E.F. team, agreed with Mr. Sutherland that though.there "was much to commend a French tour, the present tinie was scarcely opportune. Mr. Maddison said he was sorry when he learnt that the Prench tour liad- been cancelled. The French had proveo themselves the superiors of Britisli international sides — they had beaten Fngland 15 — 0, and had also beaten the touring Australians. The type of garue the French played was very attractive and would appeai to New Zealanders. The French Government, continued Mr. Maddison, was prepared to assisl in niinimisihg the cost of the Frencli tour of New Zealand, and the French seemed very keen. He understood they wero prepared to come to New Zealand earlier and ieave some time in October. ' ' There are 47,000 registered Rugby piayers in France," said Mr. Maddison. "I think the New Zealand council should take up the. question of reuewiug negotiations lor a French tour." t Mr. Sutherland said that wlicii the French learnt that the tour had been cancelled, tliey appeured to be relieved. Wlten the i- rencn wero faced with the reahtios of a long and strenuous tour in New Zealand and Australia, "they were somewhat pcrturbed. They did not want' to leave France until May 2 ti, and consequentiy it would have baen well-uigh impossible to arrange a compreliensive tour. "The longest tour the French have ever had,' said Mr. Sutherland, "was to M ororeo. They were also intenduig Lu jiiay three or tour matclies in llaly. ' ' iiic Australians made it plain to ibe r rcucli that they were fed up after their conttnuous ruu of niatches. As a result of wliat the Australiaus liad told them, there was considerable demur amoug the H'ronch piayers cqncerning a possible tour of New Zealand. "1 heartily eiidorse what Mr. Maddison said about their play. It is more aki-n to tlie t Australians -niethods — they favour theif dpen- gamq.i Hdwever, it they had a wel season in New Zealand 1 do not think they would do so wcll, as their f ootwo'rk is not' very! s'trOug. ! '