They don't qualify to compete in this year's Polocrosse World Cup in Queensland but, (in typical Gallic fashion) that has not deterred the French.

The French are coming to Warwick, and they are taking to the fields on horses loaned to them by the junior players of the Warwick Polocrosse Club.

That's official.

In fact the French are very welcome, says chairman of the Ridley Polocrosse World Cup, Mr Les Fraser. Just 100 days from the start of competition on 23 April, Mr Fraser confirmed that the French ability to get a game of Polocrosse in Warwick is due to the generosity of the junior players. [listed below.]

Mr Fraser said the French polocrosse contingent includes eight players plus four supporters who will be in Australia from 19 to 30 April, spending the majority of that time at Morgan Park in Warwick.

France is one of the newest Polocrosse playing nations but does not currently qualify to participate in the main World Cup competition. However they will field a team of eight players to participate in the Australian Equine Alliance Club Carnival which runs concurrently at Morgan Park.

The carnival is held at Morgan Park, Warwick on the last three days of World Cup week. The carnival is designed to provide additional on-field action in between international matches and is likely to draw up to 100 teams from around the country. See www.polocrosse.com.au/worldcup/overview_carnival.htm.

The French were first introduced to Polocrosse at the Henson Festival in 2004 by two UK-based former Zimbabweans: Jason and Hamish Burbidge. Since the beginning of 2006 they seriously began to train, play and really enjoy the sport with their motivation to be in Australia for the 2007 Polocrosse World Cup. See hensonpolocrosse.free.fr/Team spirit.html.

Mr Fraser said they had received interest from other new Polocrosse playing nations to attend as spectators. Amongst them are several European countries, but the Zambians appear to be the most enthusiastic about attending.

The Warwick juniors who will be lending horses are aged 12-16. They include Harry Carew, Jack Carew, Samantha Cobon and twin Tom Cobon, Zoey Cobon, Dallas Davidson, Myles Newcombe, Lachlan Osborne, Stephanie Paroz, Sam Turley, Alexandra Trzeciak and James Turley.

Left to right: Zoey Cobon, Alexandra Trzeciak, Myles Newcombe, Tom Cobon, Samantha Cobon, Jack Carew

Left to right: Dallas Davidson, James Turley, Stephanie Paroz, Lachlan Osborne, Sam Turley, Harry Carew