England set for 'Le Crunch' battle over World Cup
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Oval-ball arguments between England and France are lively enough when "Le Crunch" is confined to the pitch, but the age-old rivalry and mutual cross-Channel suspicion is likely to reach new heights when the two countries compete for the biggest financial prize in the game: the hosting of the 2007 World Cup.
Oval-ball arguments between England and France are lively enough when "Le Crunch" is confined to the pitch, but the age-old rivalry and mutual cross-Channel suspicion is likely to reach new heights when the two countries compete for the biggest financial prize in the game: the hosting of the 2007 World Cup.
The Rugby Football Union is thought to be preparing a strong individual bid for the event, after staging one pool and both semi-finals of last year's tournament, but the Tricolores are willing to match whatever Twickenham puts on the table.
Bernard Lapasset, the French Rugby Federation president, confirmed that his country would challenge for the competition, possibly in conjunction with the Italians. On the face of it, the French have an almost unanswerable case: England staged the 1991 tournament as well as several key fixtures last year and, anyway, the range of stadiums on the other side of the Channel is significantly better than anything the RFU is likely to offer.
Meanwhile, some 700 black and coloured players from South Africa are to be retrospectively honoured as Springboks under a diplomatic initiative by union officials. Anthony Mackaiser, of the South African Rugby Football Union, said that those non-white players denied the chance of representing their country during the apartheid era would receive blazers and ties at ceremonies around the country
Major touring sides in the 1970s and 80s habitually played non-white invitation teams. John Pullin's England team broke new ground by taking on a black African XV in Port Elizabeth as far back as 1972. However, it was not until 1981 that Errol Tobias became the first non-white Springbok. Attempts to break down the old barriers, however, are still undermined by public disputes. Only this week, the Golden Lions and the Blue Bulls were accused of flouting regulations governing quotas of non-white players.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments