OLYMPIC RUGBY TOURNEY

Southland Times, Issue 22948, 22 July 1936, Page 14

OLYMPIC RUGBY TOURNEY

WIN FOR FRANCE France has won the so-called “preOlympic” Rugby tournament in Berlin. The competition has no relation with the Olympic Games, to be held it. the German capital later in the year, and only four countries—France, Germany, Italy and Rumania—entered. The organizers, overlooking that British players would be out of training at this time, and that Great Britain has broken off playing relations with France, had at one time hoped to see the British teams enter. Only two eliminating matches were played before the final. Germany beat Italy 19-8 after the latter had led 8-3, and France defeated Rumania 25-5. France beat Germany in the final 19-14, though the Germans were leading seven minutes from the end. .cattle high-class Rugby was seen, though Germany emphasized the improvement she is making in the game, especially in forward play. It was a good sporting final. Whenever France and Germany meet at Rugby there are fears of “incidents,” but the long series of matches has been entirely free from unpleasant feeling. Crowds were small, for Rugby is still struggling for popular favour, in Germany.