The 1961 France rugby union tour of Australasia was a series of matches of the

France national rugby union team The France national rugby union team () represents France in men's international rugby union and it is administered by the French Rugby Federation. They traditionally play in blue shirts emblazoned with the national emblem of a golden rooste ...

which toured

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...

and Australia in 1961. France won an historical match with Australia, but was defeated (0–3) by All Black's led by

Don Clarke Donald Barry Clarke (10 November 1933 – 29 December 2002) was a New Zealand rugby union player who played 89 times (31 of these were test matches) as a New Zealand international from 1956 until 1964. He was best known for his phenomena ...

. The French most notable players were the Camberaberò brothers, Guy e Lillian, and the captain Moncla. French players were criticised for their anger: some matches were interrupted by brawls. In the match with South Canterbury, the referee sanctioned many French fouls and expelled the captain Michel Crauste, who had violently tackled Eddie Smith. It is said the old mother of the All Black's player came on the ground to slap the French player."Rugby Please", di G.Palmiotto e Ruggero Rizzi, ed.Libreria dello Sport, 2002

Results

''Scores and results list France team's points tally first.''

Touring party

*Manager: Marcel Laurent *Assistant Manager: Guy Basquet *Captain: François Moncla

Full backs

Michel Vannier, Claude Lacaze

Three-quarters

Henri Rancoule,

Guy Boniface Guy Boniface (6 March 1937 – 1 January 1968) was a French rugby union footballer that represented France in 35 Tests. Born in Montfort-en-Chalosse, Aquitaine, he mainly played at centre, and played for Stade Montois and U.S. Montfortoise. He ...

, André Boniface, Guy Calvo, Jean Piqué, Jean-Vincent Dupuy

Half-backs

Pierre Albaladejo, Pierre Lacroix,

Guy Camberabero Guy Camberabero (born 17 March 1936, in Saubion) is a former French rugby union footballer. His position was fly-half. He played for La Voulte Sportif (one of the predecessor clubs to today's La Voulte-Valence), where he won the French rugby c ...

Forwards

Pierre Cazals, Jean Laudouar, Amédée Domenech, Gerard Bouguyon, Jean-Pierre Saux, Michel Crauste, François Moncla (c),

Michel Celaya Michel Celaya (4 July 1930 – 2 January 2020) was a French rugby union player who played at back-row for the France national rugby union team and Biarritz Olympique. Early life and career Michel Celaya was born on 4 July 1930 in Biarritz, F ...

, Roland Lefevre, Jacques Rollet, Marcel Cassiede

Notes and references

{{Rugby Union Tours in New Zealand France national rugby union team tours France national rugby union team tours of Australia France national rugby union team tours of New Zealand History of rugby union matches between Australia and France

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

France Tour France Tour

Tour Tour or Tours may refer to: Travel * Tourism, travel for pleasure * Tour of duty, a period of time spent in military service * Campus tour, a journey through a college or university's campus * Guided tour, a journey through a location, directed ...