FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3438, 3 February 1920, Page 37

FOOTBALL.

ENGLAND BEATS FRANCE. Playing at Twickenham, England beat France by 8 points to 3. SOUTH AFRICANS MAY VISIT DOMINION. CAPETOWN, January 24 South Africa is considering an invitation from the Rugby Union to tour New Zealand during the coming season. LEAGUE TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA. LONDON, January 26. The council of the Northern Rugby Football Union has selected the followisg players for the Australian tour: —H. Wagstaff, J. Rogers, and D. Clarke, of Huddersfield ; E. W. Jones and J. Bowers, of the Rochdale Hornets. Jones is the most brilliant stand off half-back now playing in England. Wagstaff will captain the team. RIVAL CODES DISCUSSED. SYDNEY, January 27. Mr Claude Corbett, the football critic, in commenting on what he terms the New Zealand Rugby Union's belated adoption of the new regulations, strongly supports the attempt to put new life into the_ grand old game, but points out that it is still necessary to obtain the consent of England, South Africa, and France to these rules, which will mean a long delay, even if sanction is forthcoming. Mr Corbett doubts whether the union under the new regulations, which are only a colourable adoption-of the league-game, will be able to regain the ground lost to the league while the union slept. Referring to the fact that the English League and the New Zealand Union teams will be playing in Australia at the same time, Mr Corbett says that there is room for the two bodies contending for big public patronage together. So if the union intends to enter the fight for prestige it will be a case of the survival of the fittest, with the league fully prepared to accept the challenge.