French Cup cancelled for third consecutive year
The French Rugby League Federation has today confirmed the cancellation of the 2022 French Cup.
The Coupe de France will not have a winner for the third consecutive year.
Dominique Baloup sent a letter to the clubs over the weekend to announce the cancellation of the competition.
The letter read: “Faced with the new deterioration of the health situation in our country, with an exceptional increase in contamination, the executive board of FFR XIII today decided to cancel the 2021-2022 edition of the French Lord Derby Cup.
“The Federation must indeed face a double constraint. While taking care to preserve the health of its players, coaches, managers and supporters: on the one hand the need to identify dates for postponements of Championship matches which cannot be played on the dates initially scheduled. On the other hand the wish of the clubs to avoid extending the season beyond the deadline set for the Championship.”
It means that AS Carcassonne remain champions following their cup win in 2019. They defeated Saint-Estève XIII Catalan 22-6.
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World Cup to return to France
France have won the bid to host the 2025 Rugby League World Cup.
The World Cup is set to return to France more than 70 years after the nation hosted the inaugural tournament. The French Prime Minister Jean Castex to announce details of the successful 2025 bid on Tuesday.
The much anticipated 2021 Rugby League World Cup will take place in 2022. England kick-off the tournament at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park. They face Samoa in the tournament’s first game on Saturday 15 October.
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