FRENCH FOOTBALLERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 20, 18 October 1919, Page 4

FRENCH FOOTBALLERS

■ TOUR TO NEW ZEALAND '. SUGGESTED. An important communication regarding a visit to New Zealand next season of a French Rugby football team is in the possession of Sergeant M. P. Naughton, honorary secretary of. the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Spor.ts Coiltrol Board, who recently returned to Wellington from active sc-rvice. The All Blacks, when they mot the roprwontatives of. France in Paris, created such an impression that at a dinner after the first match (which New Zealand won by' 16 points to 10) the president of ,tlio French Ttugby Union stated that ho would like'to send a team to New Zealand. The matter was subsequently dis; cussed, and the result is contained in tlio letter from Sir. Cyril F. Ruthorford, secretary of the French Rugby Union. It reads: "Dear Sir. Naugnton—With regard to tho French Rugbv- Union sending..a team to., ifisit New, Zealrfiid on ft tour, our president, in'ihis speech, at'the" dinner,' said we, i.e., tho French 'Union, would,bo pleased 'to entertain tho idea and''send a French toarn out, but wo of' the. union, when we discussed the'mat-' ter at one of our meetings since the New Zealanders' visit, came fo tho conclusion th.lt wo could do nothing before wo received an official invitation direct from tho New Zealand Rugby Union. I might add that, as I accompanied your team to Pau and Coulouse, and had-con-vocations on the • matter, both, with Major Cameron and Lieutenant Stuart they both agreed with me that; I eoilld make no move in the matter until- I [had received a formal invitation from' the New Zealand Ru»by Unioni .that: is, in my official capacity, as I arrange all official international matches for tho French Rugby Union (except military)." In speaking to Major S. Middleton, an official of the Now South Wale 3 Rugby Union, Sergeant Nnughton was assured that that union would agree to pay its share of the expenses in connection with the tour, if matches were 1 also played in Australia. • Before the All Blacks left for South! Sfajor Mills, of tho_ South African Headquarters Staff, said that his ■union would also soriously.- consider sending a team to New; Zealand, if, an invitation was forthcoming. ,