RUGBY LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20832, 26 September 1929, Page 4

RUGBY LEAGUE.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ENGLAND; ~ (From Oub Own Correspondent.) - LONDON,. August 23. . When the Rugby League .season 'begins, ,the St. Helens Club will command special attention. Immediately after the," annual meeting, the, committee got 'down ■ to business, and, after a review of team weaknesses, signed on three players from Auckland and four Rugby Union converts of this country. The four Rugby converts are now/ training, hard on. the Khowsley road ground—E; J. Prosser' (formerly fullback for Llanelly), J.Gaskell (formerly,' ' full-back for St. Mary’s College, Twickenham), and ■ two forwards . from Cheater College in E. M. Rigby and J. y Thorpe. Gaskell, Rigby, • and Thorpe are all extremely well built. The probablc St. Helens • team will contain II internationals and two county men. 1 The New Zealanders are Lon Hntt, k E. T. Hall, and-R. Hardgrave. The first two are .forwards, and Hardgrave is j described In Auckland messages as “the i best three-quarter in New Zealand." All three , have taken part- in test matches with England.' 1 ; ; j.

Broughton Rangers are in much the same position as they have been.' for years—heavily burdened financially, but still • hopeful of a . change. There has been a drastic weeding out, and as a means. of getting- the best. out jof the younger players, as well as the old, George Davidson, the former,Cumberland three-quarter, has been > appointed team manager. The engagement of Trevor Hanlon, the New Zealand' three-quarter-back, is one step the board has taken to strengthen its side. " 'i'. Xvy W. L. Desnioiid is another New Zealander, who will he playing for.-Leeds, L., -Brown, JB. Davidson, and L. Masonall' New Zealanders^—will plav for Wigan. : -f;. ...

. “Wigan ‘directors and-supporters,” says the Athletic News, “ have been disappointed- at* ‘the news from New Zealand - that Falwasser, the famous Madti three-quarter or .stand-off half-back,*;iis not ’.coming to -Central Park —at any rate,; that he w;ill not be, there 'at the openings of i the season. Falwasser • accepted Wigan's terms, but afterwards cabled that, owing, to family illness, he could,no.t make-the journey. Jit is. hbped, however, that .- the New Zealander will be- induced to recolislder hi's decision.”