Leeds began the defence of their Super League crown with a hard-fought 34-6 victory over new-look Crusaders at a snowy Racecourse Ground.
Backed by the majority of a 10,334 crowd, Brian Noble’s side made an encouraging start to life in Wrexham before running out of gas late on.
For over an hour Crusaders stood toe-to-toe with their [...]

Leeds Rhinos will face an under-strength Melbourne Storm side in February’s Gillette World Club Challenge at Elland Roand.

The Australian champions will be missing four players for the clash on February 28 as the quartet will be undergoing close-season surgery.
Melbourne could also suffer with the late arrival of eight internationals also threatening to seriously disrupt their [...]

Catalans Dragon captain Greg Bird has quit the club to join NRL side Gold Coast Titans for 2010.  The 25-year-old will join the Queensland club on a 12-month deal after rejecting a new two-year contract with the Catalans.  The stand-off or loose forward has had countless off-field controversies throughout his career overshadowing his on-field capability.  [...]

Three England players have made it into the 2009 World XIII selected by Rugby League World magazine.
St Helens prop James Graham has retained his place after making the 2008 line-up, but has this year been joined by back-row duo Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess having been the only Englishman chosen 12 months ago.
Former Wakefield and [...]

Former Manly scrum-half Michael Monaghan has been named as first-choice hooker for Warrington next season.
Wolves’ squad numbers were revealed on Tuesday, with international hookers Mickey Higham and Jon Clarke both overlooked in favour of Monaghan.
Monaghan, who has been at the Halliwell Jones stadium since 2008, made a successful switch to hooker this year when Higham [...]

Former Great Britain player Paul Johnson is hoping to earn a contract with the Wakefield Wildcats.
The 31-year-old is currently without a club having been released by Warrington at the end of last season following a string of injury problems.
However, he is currently training with Wakefield with the aim of earning a deal at Belle Vue.
Wildcats [...]

Former Australia and Catalans forward Greg Bird has been spared jail after a conviction for recklessly wounding his girlfriend was quashed on appeal.
Bird was convicted of recklessly wounding Kate Milligan in April and later sentenced to at least eight months in jail, with a maximum of 16 months.
Milligan had suffered a broken eye socket and [...]

England defence coach Mike Ford is reportedly being considered for the England rugby league head coach’s job, threatening Martin Johnson’s intentions to keep his management team in place for the Six Nations.
Former Oldham, Castleford and Wakefield scrum-half Ford is thought to be in contention to succeed Tony Smith, who resigned from the post following the [...]

Huddersfield Giants have signed former Gateshead centre Jamie Cording on a one-year part-time deal.
The 20-year-old will train with the Giants as he looks to secure a permanent deal at the Galpharm.
The former Castleford played, who can operate at back-row or centre, has targeted breaking into the Giants’ first team.
“I want to work hard in pre-season [...]

Craig Fitzgibbon cleared to play for Hull after
visa Approval
Hull FC have been boosted by the confirmation that their former Australia player Craig Fitzgibbon has been granted a visa for next season.
Fitzgibbon’s international team-mate Michael Crocker was refused entry to this country last year following a conviction in Australia, while there was also a significant [...]

Skipper Lockyer Tipped to Shine
Australia hooker Cameron Smith believes captain Darren Lockyer can be the match winner for the Kangaroos in Saturday’s crunch Four Nations game with England.  Lockyer’s side need to win after a 20-20 draw with New Zealand in their opening game but Smith expects their big guns to stand up to the [...]

St Helens hooker James Roby insists England’s team spirit could not be stronger ahead of Saturday’s Gillette Four Nations clash with Australia.
A split between players from Grand Final rivals Leeds and Saints was cited as one of the reasons for England’s poor showing in the World Cup, but Roby reckons the mood in the camp [...]

Australia opt for English referee to take charge of Four Nations clash
England have welcomed the appointment of a home referee, Steve Ganson, for Saturday’s Four Nations match against Australia in Wigan, after the Kangaroos refused to accept a neutral official from New Zealand or France.
Australia have plenty of history with Ganson, who awarded a crucial [...]