5 Mar 2010

Canada pull out of women's rugby tour

6:23 pm on 5 March 2010

The Canadian women's rugby tour of New Zealand next month has been cancelled, leaving the Black Ferns without any international competition ahead of the rugby world cup in August.

The general manager of professional rugby in New Zealand Neil Sorensen says Canada made the decision to cancel the tour, which included two tests with the New Zealand side.

Sorensen says the decision is disappointing, but the Black Ferns will still be well-prepared to defend their world cup title in London later this year, with a regional tournament in Rotorua now scheduled to replace the Canada tests.