Canada cans women's rugby tour to NZ

Last updated 21:47 05/03/2010

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The Canada women's rugby tour of New Zealand has been cancelled, leaving the Black Ferns without any scheduled international games between now and this year's World Cup in England.

The tour, which was scheduled for April, was to have included two test matches.

Rugby Canada put out a statement saying the decision was mutual, with the tour cancelled due to both nations "re-evaluating pre World Cup plans".

The tests were to be the only pre-World Cup match play for the leading New Zealand women, whose national provincial championship was axed this year for financial reasons.

The decision to axe the provincial championship drew heavy criticism, including from former Black Ferns captain Farah Palmer, who said it could effectively kill the women's game in New Zealand.

The Black Ferns will still undergo an internal training camp to prepare for the World Cup in August.

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- NZPA