SIDELINES

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 20

SIDELINES

GRAHAM LOWE was voted Coach of the Year in the England rugby league first division awards this week. Lowe steered Wigan to three trophies- and a place in the preimership final on Sunday. Andy Gregory (Wigan) was voted Player of the Year.

FRENCH RUGBY LEAGUE is under new management. Jean-Paul Verdaguer, the president from 1981 to 1984, has been re-elected in place of Jacques Sopelsa, who prudently did not stand in the wake of the cancellation of the French tour “down under.” Twelve of the 24 executive members are new and a Government subsidy of one million francs ($287,100) should ease financial worries. Verdaguer and his team will present its policy to a congress in June. “When it’s known, those who agree will stay, the others will have only to leave,” he said.

ST ALBANS has understandably retained its successful cricket leadership of last summer. Neil Francis, who led the first grade men’s team to its championship triumph, and Ann McKenna, the captain of the senior women’s side which made a cleansweep of the preChristmas, post-Christmas and over-all titles, have been reappointed for the 1987-88 season.

JIMMY PEAU, the Commonwealth Games heavyweight gold medallist, will be back in the boxing ring next month, seeking a second victory over a Yugoslav opponent. Two years ago Peau came to prominence by knocking out Milinko Andric in the second round of a bout at Auckland. Next month’s Yugoslav touring squad includes another heavyweight, Zoran Grujicic, who will be matched against Peau.