Rugby League: Kiwis injured in fall

STEPHEN KEARNEY, who captained New Zealand in the Test against Great Britain at Headingley on Saturday, is in hospital in France after falling from a hotel balcony.

Kearney has been detained for observation after the fall from the first floor of the team's hotel in Carcassonne. Jason Williams, the wing who, like Kearney, appeared in all three Tests in England, broke his ankle in the same incident.

The tourists, beaten 3-0 in the Test series in England, are due to play four matches, including one Test, in France.

Wakefield are hoping to persuade Andy Gregory to join them when their football chairman, Stuart Farrar, meets him today, despite Salford joining the chase for the 32-year-old former Great Britain scrum-half.

Leeds will be prepared to sell Gregory for around pounds 15,000, but only if they can sign Leigh's Jason Donohue as a replacement. Wakefield are willing to offer Gregory a coaching role at Belle Vue, with the prospect of taking over as full-time player-coach if Dave Topliss decides to move on at the end of this season.

Trinity see Gregory as an inspiring replacement for Geoff Bagnall, who returned to Australia this week to join Canberra. If he was earmarked as coach, however, it would involve moving to Yorkshire and that could prove a barrier.

Leeds go to Salford for a Regal Trophy tie on Saturday with a crisis in the other half- back position. Garry Schofield, Graham Holroyd, Ellery Hanley and Craig Innes, any of whom could be used at stand- off, are all injured.

Wakefield are expecting Henry Paul, Bagnall's replacement on their overseas quota, to arrive at the start of December.