Rules for the French bridge opponents (4)

I believe the answer is:

laws

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'rules' is the definition.
(laws are rules)

'the french bridge opponents' is the wordplay.
'the french' becomes 'la' ('the' in French).
'bridge opponents' becomes 'ws' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'la'+'ws'='LAWS'

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for laws that I've seen before include "Rules, statutes" , "Codes of action" , "legislation" , "code" , "Regulations" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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