SEASON FOE CANCELLATION.

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 74, 29 March 1922, Page 7

SEASON FOE CANCELLATION.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) PARIS, 27th March.

The Australian Press Association learns authoritatively that the reason for the cancellation of the Eugby tour is solely that the absence of the best players would interfere with the success of the French championships, which begin in October and continue till May. It was thought that a return in September would be possible, but the French Eugby Federation has just learned from the New Zealand Eugby Union that the earliest date for return was 15th October. The federation therefore decided against the tour. Some of the best judges have been against the tour, on the ground that French footballers, though they have made remarkable progress since the war, have not yet reached a sufficiently high standard to meet the Australasians and New Zealanders, and must have suffered' a crushing defeat. Others considered that a stem series of matches, which the tour would certainly have provided, would have bean the finest, if severe, lesson for French Rugby player?. These considerations, however, did not enter into the federation's decision.

[An earlier message, published on Monday, stated that many of the French team were in the army, and must b& back by September, but the explanation given in the above message tint they are required to play in the championships was at that time within the knowledge of the New Zealand Rugby Union."]