1961 France rugby union tour of New Zealand and Australia
# 1961 France rugby union tour of New Zealand and Australia

The 1961 France rugby union tour of Australasia was a series of matches of the France national rugby union team which toured New Zealand and Australia in 1961. France won an historical match with Australia, but was defeated (0–3) by All Black's led by Don Clarke. 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.

## Results

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

| Opposing Team | For | Against | Date | Venue | Status |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nelson / Marlborough / Golden Bay-Motueka | 29 | 11 | 8 July 1961 | Trafalgar Park, Nelson | Tour match |
| Taranaki | 11 | 9 | 12 July 1961 | Rugby Park, New Plymouth | Tour match |
| Waikato | 3 | 22 | 15 July 1961 | Rugby Park, Hamilton | Tour match |
| North Auckland | 6 | 8 | 18 July 1961 | Okara Park, Whangarei | Tour match |
| New Zealand | 6 | 13 | 22 July 1961 | Eden Park, Auckland | Test match |
| Bay of Plenty | 22 | 6 | 26 July 1961 | Rugby Park, Rotorua | Tour match |
| New Zealand Māori | 32 | 5 | 29 July 1961 | McLean Park, Napier | Tour match |
| Manawatu | 21 | 6 | 1 August 1961 | Showground Oval, Palmerston North | Tour match |
| New Zealand | 3 | 5 | 5 August 1961 | Athletic Park, Wellington | Test match |
| Southland | 14 | 6 | 9 August 1961 | Rugby Park, Invercargill | Tour match |
| Otago | 15 | 6 | 12 August 1961 | Carisbrook, Dunedin | Tour match |
| South Canterbury | 14 | 17 | 15 August 1961 | Fraser Park, Timaru | Tour match |
| New Zealand | 3 | 32 | 19 August 1961 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | Test match |
| Queensland | 15 | 12 | 22 August 1961 | Ekka Ground, Brisbane | Tour match |
| Australia | 15 | 8 | 26 August 1961 | Cricket Ground, Sydney | Test match |

## Touring party

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

### Full backs

Michel Vannier, Claude Lacaze

### Three-quarters

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

### Half-backs

Pierre Albaladejo, Pierre Lacroix, Guy Camberabero

### Forwards

Pierre Cazals, Jean Laudouar, Amédée Domenech, Gerard Bouguyon, Jean-Pierre Saux, Michel Crauste, François Moncla (c), Michel Celaya, Roland Lefevre, Jacques Rollet, Marcel Cassiede

